Chaos at White House Correspondents' Dinner: Gunman Incident Shakes Washington
A chaotic scene unfolded at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner when a gunman attempted to breach security, leading to a swift response from Secret Service and raising concerns about safety at high-profile events. Donald Trump, who...
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night (March 25) turned into a scene of disruption after a gunman attempted to breach security. Donald Trump, who has previously been the target of an assassination attempt, was evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior members of the administration.
Hundreds of guests reportedly hid under tables in the ballroom as agents with guns drawn rushed reporters out of the room, mentioning “shots fired”.
One officer, protected by a bulletproof vest, was shot and taken to hospital, according to The Independent.
The suspect, allegedly carrying a shotgun and handgun, was reportedly a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel where the event was held. Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that he faces two firearm-related charges, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
Following the incident, Trump posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground. He also vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference, noting that the event had “unified” political opponents and the media.
President Trump was rushed off of the stage by Secret Service at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/r52sIwptQV
— AF Post (@AFpost) April 26, 2026
Trump, who was attending the annual dinner for the first time as President, commented on the situation, stating: “My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.” He praised the Secret Service and noted that the gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom.
He added, “I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing… To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service, and they acted very quickly.”
The armed assault occurred just days before the state visit by the King and Queen, who are scheduled to meet Trump and attend a White House banquet.
The Washington Hilton has been the site of a previous attempted presidential assassination. In 1981, then-president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the hotel.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor. USA TODAY reporters inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel say they heard loud… pic.twitter.com/wsaAi22p3K
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 26, 2026
Among the Trump administration officials attending the event were Vice President JD Vance, White House Deputy Chief of Policy Stephen Miller, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, and Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA.
Reports indicated that Kirk was visibly shaken by the incident, especially after her husband, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed last year during an appearance at a Utah university.
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