Washington: The United States President Donald Trump evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner After a Security Incident in Washington DC.
Following an unspecified security threat, Secret Service agents and other authorities rushed into the banquet hall as hundreds of guests ducked for cover under tables.
“Out of the way, sir!” one voice shouted, while others urged people to get down, according to the Associated Press. No immediate injuries were reported.
Many of the 2,600 attendees took cover under tables as waiters fled toward the front of the dining hall.
Other Trump administration officials attending the dinner were also evacuated after a loud commotion and noise erupted near the hotel ballroom.
Shots fired at Correspondents’ Association dinner
Shortly before being escorted off the stage by security, First Lady Melania Trump appeared to react to something in the crowd, her face showing concern, according to a live C-SPAN feed reported by Reuters.
Some attendees reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. The banquet hall, where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities, and national leaders had been awaiting Trump’s speech, was immediately evacuated.
Members of the National Guard took up positions inside the building, while people were permitted to leave but not re-enter. Security outside the venue was also extremely tight.
Those in attendance included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
‘Quite an evening…’ Trump reacts to firing incident
A suspect linked to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner security incident has been taken into custody and remains alive, as confirmed by Donald Trump.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described it as “quite an evening in D.C.,” praising the Secret Service and law enforcement for their “quick and brave” response. He noted the alleged shooter had been apprehended and said he initially wanted to continue the event with “LET THE SHOW GO ON,” but deferred to authorities’ decision. Trump acknowledged the disruption would prevent the evening from proceeding as planned, suggesting it be rescheduled for a later date.
Trump also informed that he will brief the media from the White House Press Briefing Room.
Informing about the safety of First Lady and Vice President Trump in a Truth Social Post Said, “Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump attends 1st White House Correspondents’ Association dinner as President
According to reports, President Trump’s attendance at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, his first as president put his administration’s often-contentious relationship with the press on full public display.
Trump arrived at the event, where leaders of a nation at war mingled with celebrities, journalists, in a dinner that traditionally sparks debate over whether journalists and their sources should socialize together.
Trump was watched closely throughout the evening by the very reporters who cover him and his administration.
Past presidents who have attended the dinner have typically used the platform to speak about the importance of free speech and the First Amendment, often adding light-hearted roasts of individual journalists.
Trump skipped the event during his first term and the first year of his second term. He previously attended as a guest in 2011, sitting in the audience as President Barack Obama jokingly targeted the then-New York real estate developer. Trump also attended as a private citizen in 2015.
The White House has not yet issued a formal statement on whether President Trump will address the nation about the attack.
The WHCD, often dubbed the “Nerd Prom”, has faced past security scares, but an active shooter engagement inside the host hotel represents the most serious breach in the event’s 100-plus-year history.
Bureau Report
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