Washington: US President Donald Trump on Sunday shared a video of the shooter involved in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, along with images of the detained suspect, after chaos erupted at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening. The incident unfolded after suspected gunshots were reportedly fired in the hotel lobby, triggering panic and forcing the immediate evacuation of Trump and other senior officials attending the annual dinner. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were swiftly escorted out of the ballroom by tactical teams and moved to a secure location.
Speaking later at a press conference, Trump said the suspect had been captured and described him as a “very sick person.” He added that authorities had searched the man’s apartment and claimed the suspect was a resident of California.
“The man has been captured. They’ve gone to his apartment. I guess he lives in California, and he’s a sick person, a very sick person, and we don’t want things like this to happen,” Trump said.
Trump said that the suspect was armed with multiple weapons and attempted to charge a security checkpoint before being stopped by Secret Service officers. During the confrontation, one officer was shot, but his protective vest saved his life.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service. One officer was shot, but saved; the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and he’s doing great,” Trump said.
ANI reporter Reena Bhardwaj, who was present at the dinner, described the tense atmosphere inside the ballroom. She said the initial sound was mistaken for dishes clattering, but panic quickly spread as staff and guests realized the situation was far more serious. After Trump was rushed out, Cabinet members were also escorted safely from the venue.
This is not the first time Trump has faced such a security threat. In July 2024, he survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the venue at around 6:15 pm local time.
The bullet grazed Trump’s ear before Secret Service agents quickly rushed him off stage and placed him in a secure motorcade. The incident had sparked major security concerns during the election campaign and remains one of the most serious attacks against a US presidential candidate in recent history.
Bureau Report
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