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Editor’s Note: CORRECTION An earlier version of the story reported that the suspect was dead. Officials subsequently said the suspect was in custody.
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other dignitaries were removed by security after a shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night.
Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, April 25, 2026.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
In a chaotic scene that unfolded inside the Washington Hilton hotel ballroom, officers in tactical gear with long guns jumped over tables, brandishing their weapons as the president and other dignitaries, such as Vice President JD Vance, were rushed from the stage.
Attendees ducked under their tables.
U.S. Secret Service agents respond on stage during the White House Correspondents Dinner, April 25, 2026, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
The shooting incident took place near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, according to the Secret Service.
The Secret Service and the FBI said that a suspect is in custody.
Trump is due to hold a news conference from the White House later Saturday, he said in a social media post.
Law enforcement is continuing to conduct the investigation.
Attendees hide under tables after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images
This was the first correspondents’ dinner that Trump attended as president. He was scheduled to speak.
The dinner was underway and Trump, the first lady and other dignitaries were sitting at the main table shortly Trump and White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang were chatting with the dinner’s host Oz Pearlman, when some attendees said they heard several loud bangs shortly after 8:30 p.m. ET.
Security officials react as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, April 25, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
In a social media post, Trump praised the Secret Service for their work.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” he said.
In a later post, Trump said law enforcement requested attendees leave the premises and the the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately,” Trump said.
Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, April 25, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Jiang initially told the crowd at the Washington Hilton ballroom that the program would continue however she later told the crowd that they had to leave.
Attendees leave the venue as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, April 25, 2026.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters
“I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service because when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it,” she told the crowd.
“And on a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are. I saw all of you reporting, and that’s what we do,” Jiang added.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
