Gunfire at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump Evacuated

Darwin, 26 April: Gunfire broke out at the venue of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, where Donald Trump, cabinet members, and senior officials including Kash Patel were in attendance. Security personnel quickly evacuated the president from the scene.

The annual event was being held Saturday evening around 8:30 p.m. local time at the Washington Hilton.

According to reports by the BBC and Reuters, witnesses said several loud bangs were heard, prompting hundreds of guests to take cover under tables. One reporter said members of the United States Secret Service rushed into the room with weapons drawn, shouting that shots had been fired before evacuating attendees.

Amid the chaos, President Trump was swiftly escorted off the stage to a secure location. U.S. media reported that the First Lady was also evacuated. Shortly afterward, the Counter Assault Team (CAT) took positions on stage, aiming long guns toward the back of the ballroom. Another high-profile guest was then rushed out, with security agents climbing over tables and removing barriers to clear a path.

At the time of the incident, the White House press pool—journalists who cover the president daily—said they were held back by Secret Service agents. However, they overheard agents saying that a suspected gunman had been taken into custody, although this was not independently verified at the time.

Catherine Alaimo, who was present at the dinner, told the BBC: “I was eating during a volunteer break when I heard several loud bangs in quick succession. The gunshots sounded very close. One of the other volunteers shouted, ‘That’s gunfire!’ We then ran toward an emergency exit and took shelter there until the SWAT team moved through.”

Thousands of attendees were inside the main ballroom during the incident, leading to widespread confusion and panic. Many later emerged from under tables to assess the situation.

Among those present, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was seen limping, while TV host Jeanine Pirro was quickly escorted past reporters. A dramatic moment also involved FBI Director Kash Patel, who, according to a witness, shielded a woman believed to be his girlfriend before being evacuated.

Security was immediately heightened around the hotel, with police surrounding the area and helicopters seen overhead. Law enforcement presence increased rapidly.

Later, President Trump said on social media that law enforcement acted “quickly and bravely” and that the suspected shooter had been apprehended. He added that the First Lady, Vice President, and cabinet members were all safe, and that the event had been postponed, with plans to reschedule it within 30 days.

So far, no fatalities have been confirmed. However, the exact cause of the gunfire and full details of the incident remain unclear, and an investigation is ongoing.

Officials said the incident occurred when an armed individual attempted to breach security at the dinner. An FBI official told Reuters that the suspect fired at a Secret Service agent, with the bullet striking the agent’s protective gear. The agent was injured but survived.

Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the agency is investigating a shooting near the main screening area at the venue entrance. Washington, D.C.’s interim police chief Jeffrey Carroll told reporters that the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, and that an exchange of gunfire took place between the suspect and law enforcement officers.