US EditionInside the room as shots rang out at correspondents' dinner
Attendees ducked under tables as Secret Service rushed President Trump and other officials away, and the gala was canceled after the security scare.
- On Saturday, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton following a security incident that forced the gala's cancellation.
- The Washington Hilton previously hosted the 1981 shooting of former President Ronald Reagan, and attendees reported security felt light, with cursory ticket checks and minimal screening before entering the ballroom.
- Three loud pops rang out as Secret Service agents swarmed the ballroom; actor Zachary Levi and FBI Director Kash Patel dove for cover while 2600 guests scrambled under tables for safety.
- From the stage, WHCA President Weijia Jiang announced the gala's cancellation and stated The President would hold a press briefing in 30 minutes as authorities tackled a suspect carrying a shotgun, handgun, and knife.
- Perceived violence in Washington has escalated in recent months, with officials previously declaring a "crime emergency." Threats against The President have become a recurring feature of the current administration's political landscape.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Our colleague was in the room when chaos erupted at DC's annual press dinner. Here's what he thought about the security.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino jumps over a chair during the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesSenior Editor Tim Röhn was among the attendees at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.He described the fear and panic in the room after hearing someone shout, "Shots fired."He was struck by how "lax" security was at the event throughout the evening.Just after 8:30 p.m. on a Saturd…
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Was ‘Right Near’ Shooter at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Reveals What He Saw | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip
Gunshots erupted and suspect is in custody after a shooting occurred at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which was supposed to be held on Saturday (April 25). Donald Trump was one of many evacuated from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton after shots were heard in the lobby. So many members of the press were in attendance, but CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer happened to be “right near” where the shots were fired, outside of the event s…
By Wolf Blitzer, Todd Symons and Logan Schiciano, CNN. CNN's Wolf Blitzer was just a few feet away from a gunman when shots rang out outside the main ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Blitzer had just stepped out of the men's restroom upstairs, outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, when he saw a man with "a very, very dangerous weapon." "Suddenly I heard these loud, very loud, very scary shots right next to me. The nex…
VIDEO - Our special envoy Laurence Haim tells the anguish of the hundreds of guests of the traditional White House correspondents' dinner.
A door and a staircase. That's how close the shooter was to the ballroom where Donald Trump was sitting with 2,600 politicians and journalists. – Get on the ground! Get on the ground! shouted one person.
The correspondent of EL PAÍS, who attended the correspondents’ dinner, spoke with Javier del Pino in ‘To live that is two days’
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