President Trump evacuated

Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time as a sitting president, but the evening quickly turned chaotic when gunshots were heard just minutes after the event began.

Trump had been speaking with Weijia Jiang after her opening remarks when several shots rang out inside the Washington Hilton. Secret Service agents immediately told Trump and Melania Trump to take cover before rushing them out.

Cabinet officials and other senior guests were also evacuated as security teams worked to clear the building and check for further danger. Authorities later confirmed that neither Trump nor Vice President JD Vance were injured.

Early reports created confusion, with some claiming the shooter had been killed, while others said one suspect had been taken into custody. At the time, no clear details were released about the person’s identity or motive.

Witnesses inside the ballroom described panic as people hid under tables after hearing the shots. One woman reportedly called it the scariest moment of her life, while Senator John Fetterman was seen helping another guest.

Some attendees first thought the noise was harmless because the sound was muffled, and later reports suggested the shooting happened upstairs, away from the main ballroom. This explained why many initially did not realize it was gunfire.

Although organizers first hoped to continue the dinner, the event was later cancelled for security reasons. Trump later praised law enforcement on Truth Social, saying officers acted bravely and quickly, and confirmed the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.