Trump says suspected shooter has been ‘apprehended’<\/p>\n
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the \u201cshooter has been apprehended\u201d and that he has recommended that we \u201cLET THE SHOW GO ON\u201d but said the decision will ultimately be made by law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will make a decision shortly,\u201d Trump said. \u201cRegardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we\u2019ll just, plain, have to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.50 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Trump says one officer was shot, but was \u201csaved by the fact that he was wearing a obviously very good bulletproof vest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Images are coming into the news room from the evacuation and the moments that followed. Secret Service rushed through the room, removing the president, the first lady and several cabinet members.<\/p>\n Many journalists and guests left the gala amid the chaos, but many remained in the room.<\/p>\n Donald Trump is escorted out as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026, in this screen capture from video. Photograph: Bo Erickson\/ReutersDan Scavino jumps over a chair after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla\/Getty ImagesGuests take cover after U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner by Secret Service agents after a loud, unidentified noise, in Washington, D.C., U.S. April 25, 2026. Photograph: Evan Vucci\/ReutersSecurity officials react as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst\/ReutersAttendees check their phones in the lobby of the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Photograph: Alex Wroblewski\/AFP\/Getty ImagesA police officer walks through the lobby of the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Photograph: Alex Wroblewski\/AFP\/Getty ImagesStephen Miller helps his wife Katie Miller are seen after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla\/Getty ImagesAttendees leave the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Photograph: Kent Nishimura\/AFP\/Getty ImagesAttendees leave the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Photograph: Kent Nishimura\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d Trump tells reporters. He has shared a photograph of the suspect on Truth Social.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThat was very unexpected,\u201d Trump begins, speaking from the White House briefing room. He is still wearing his tuxedo from the evening\u2019s gala.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Weijia Jiang, the president of the WHCA, rode with the president to the White House.<\/p>\n \u201cI came to the WH with President Trump, who is preparing for a press conference to brief reporters. We hope to have more answers soon. A few of us are waiting in the briefing room. Thank God he, the First Lady, and everyone who was attending the WHCD was safe.\u201d she said on X.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Reporters in the White House briefing room have been given a two-minute warning, meaning the president will speak shortly. The Guardian\u2019s Hugo Lowell is in the briefing room.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Marcin Wrona, US correspondent for TVN Poland, was sitting close to the incident. He told the Guardian\u2019s David Smith: \u201cWe were waiting for our dinner and suddenly I heard bang, bang, bang, bang and for a moment we had no idea what was going on but then we immediately heard someone scream, \u2018Shots fired!\u2019 and everybody went, you know, under under the table.<\/p>\n \u201cI stayed on my chair, looking around to see if there is any imminent danger, if I can spot anything. I couldn\u2019t. And some people were really frightened. You could clearly see that.<\/p>\n \u201cThen the evacuation of the president, the first lady, etc, etc. But also the members of the cabinet, Steve Scalise, were being escorted outside right next to us. So, in fact, they were passing very close to where the shots were fired, but they were using a different door.\u201d<\/p>\n Wrona added: \u201cIt is a bit surprising because this is supposed to be the most secure place in Washington DC<\/a> with cabinet members, president, vice-president, everybody here. So this is the most secure place. Yes, there are tensions. Yes, we had attempts on President Trump\u2019s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, in Florida. Am I very surprised? Unfortunately not.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.30 EDT<\/p>\n Many guests and journalists in the room are recounting their experience in the room.<\/p>\n Kerry Kennedy, RFK\u2019s sister who was a guest of the Boston Globe at the gala, recalled on X: \u201cA loud bang of gun shots, then \u201cGet down, get down, get down!\u201d I hit the floor at the White House Correspondent\u2019s Dinner mid conversation with Jamie Raskin, who heroically protected me, whispering, \u201cYou\u2019re ok, you\u2019re ok, you\u2019re ok,\u201d while my host from the Boston Globe laid on the ground while furiously taking notes, and thousands of journalists, photographers, and editors took cover under tables and beneath chairs. Then the doors burst open, and scores of Secret Service agents rushed into the room, many with hands on holsters. They rushed for cabinet secretaries and pulled them to safety. Then security started yelling, \u201cGo, go, go,\u201d demanding that we leave. It was terrifying. But I am still grateful to the brave Secret Service, to my friends at the Boston Globe, and most especially to Jamie Raskin.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.20 EDT<\/p>\n The WHCA gala is held each year at the Washington Hilton.<\/p>\n It is the same hotel where president Ronald Reagan was shot and gravely wounded by a would-be assassin in 1981.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n WHCA had hoped to resume the dinner, but now many of the journalists from the dinner are trying to make it to the White House in time to attend the president\u2019s press briefing. Many of the roads around the hotel are closed or blocked.<\/p>\n