A dramatic scene unfolded Saturday night at the White House Correspondents Dinner when gunfire erupted just outside the Washington Hilton ballroom, forcing the immediate evacuation of President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and top administration officials.
The shooting began shortly after 8:30 p.m., approximately 20 minutes after the president and first lady made their entrance into the high-profile event, which was attended by more than 2,000 guests, including lawmakers, journalists, and senior White House staff.
According to law enforcement sources, the gunman was intercepted near the metal detectors outside the ballroom. The suspect was taken into custody, with some reports indicating he may have been shot. Authorities have not yet released full details on his condition.
Secret Service agents quickly moved to secure the president and other كبار officials, evacuating Trump, Melania, Vice President JD Vance, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and members of the Cabinet from the dais before clearing the rest of the ballroom.
The Secret Service later confirmed that the president and all officials were safe, and no injuries were reported.
Inside the venue, panic broke out as multiple gunshots rang through the lobby area. Attendees scrambled for cover, with some diving under tables as law enforcement rushed in. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who was present, described hearing several shots in rapid succession before being pushed to the ground by an officer for protection.
The annual event, often referred to as the “nerd prom,” had just featured remarks from White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang, who noted Trump’s return to the dinner after many years.
Initially, organizers indicated the program might continue, but by 9:45 p.m., the event was officially canceled. President Trump later announced that it would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do immediately,” Trump said in a post, adding that a briefing would be held at the White House. He also praised law enforcement and the Secret Service for their “fantastic job” in responding to the incident.
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
