Trump Safe After Shots Fired at White House Dinner; Suspect in Custody

President Donald Trump was rushed from the White House Correspondents Dinner by the Secret Service after shots were heard near the event hall, on Saturday night.

President Donald Trump was rushed from the White House Correspondents Dinner by the Secret Service after shots were heard near the event hall, on Saturday night. The President, Vice-President J.D. Vance and other senior US government officials, and the press were attending the evening event.

President Trump said on Truth Social that law enforcement has requested that he leave the site of the dinner and will do so “immediately.” He said that he will give a press conference from the White House briefing room.

“The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” he said.

Mr. Trump said that he has spoken with those in charge of the Correspondents Dinner and “we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”

Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service spokesman, said that the agency and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a “shooting incident” near the main security screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The president and first lady, along with all protectees, are safe, he said in a statement shared to social media.

Guglielmi said that a person is in custody.

“The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,” he said.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said that a shooter has been apprehended and said that while he wants the dinner to continue, that will be up to law enforcement.

“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,” Mr. Trump wrote. “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.”

Law enforcement sources initially told CBS News that the shooter was killed, but White House officials later said the person was “neutralized” but alive.

Attendees of the White House Correspondents Dinner heard what sounded like three to four gun shots around 8:30 p.m.

The shots sounded like they were fired outside the ballroom, near a back stairwell, opposite the stage where the president was seated. The president was evacuated within seconds.

Gunpowder could be smelled near the back of the room. Among those escorted out by security were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, FBI Director Kash Patel and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

The incident happened at the Washington Hilton, the same hotel were President Reagan was shot.

After the incident was over, the Secret Service was trying to convince Trump to not go back in.

Never Miss a Headline!

Sign up for the COLlive Daily News Roundup and never miss a story

Opt In

• I would like to receive the collive newsletter

Follow Us!