Donald Trump evacuated, man in custody after shots fired at White House correspondents’ dinner
Donald Trump and other top leaders have been evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents after shots fired.
US President Donald Trump and other top leaders have been evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents after shots were fired.
There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and both Trump and Vice President JD Vance were uninjured, an AP source said, and a man is now in custody.
The security incident took place outside the room where the president and other officials were attending dinner. One law-enforcement official confirmed a shooter opened fire.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Dramatic pictures show the secret service and other authorities swarning the banquet hall as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds.
“Out of the way, sir!” someone yelled. Others yelled to duck.
The US Secret Service posted a statement to X, and said: “Our teams are on the ground assessing the situation and investigating. All of our protectees are safe.”
There are reports the man in custody is a 30-year-old from California, ABC news said.
In a post to Truth social, Donald Trump said: “The shooter has been apprehended.”
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”
In another post he said law enforcement 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.”
Trump is understood to be holding a press conference from the White House Press Briefing Room.
An Associated Press employee who was inside the venue when this incident unfolded.
“The dinner had just started. President and First Lady had just been brought into the room a few minutes later.
People were just in their first course and there was some sort of loud commotion. Secret service came running up. They immediately pulled the President and First Lady and Karoline Leavitt, who were on the dais.
“They pulled them to safety and then everybody was laying on the ground.
“All the journalists, all the guests, all the dignitaries were on the ground. Secret service appeared to be clearing the room, looking. It’s unclear exactly what happened, but I saw slowly we saw Marco Rubio, Stephen Miller, and his wife, Katie Miller get pulled out. We also saw Scott Bessent, an energy secretary. Chris Wright also being moved to safety very quickly.
“Secret service moved very, very quickly. But right now we really just don’t know what’s going on. There was some loud noise, some a scuffle of some sort. But what exactly happened to precipitate what happened is, frankly, right now it’s a little bit unclear.”
Donald Trump’s attendance at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington was his first as president.
First Lady Melania Trump and Trump administration officials attending the dinner were also evacuated.
Many of the 2600 attendees took cover while waiters fled to the front of the dining hall.
More to come
