Updated
April 25, 2026, 9:50 p.m. ET
President Trump was rushed from the stage after gunfire broke out in the hotel where the White House correspondents’ dinner was being held on Saturday night. The president appeared to be unharmed and was posting on social media, saying that he would soon hold a news conference at the White House.
The F.B.I. said a suspect was in custody after the Secret Service called “a shooting incident” near a security screening area. According to the White House press pool, a group of reporters who travel with the president, a member of the Secret Service shouted, “Shots fired,” and agents with guns drawn sprinted through the aisles to reach the president.
Guests were about five minutes into the dinner hour when a commotion could be heard toward the back of the ballroom. Gasps were heard and then hundreds of attendees dropped under their seats at their tables.
Security officials with weapons drawn emerged on the dais as the president and the first lady, Melania Trump, were quickly escorted out. Mr. Trump later wrote on social media, “The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition.”
Here’s what else we’re covering:
Administration attendees: In addition to the president, Ms. Trump and Vice President JD Vance, many members of the president’s cabinet and senior staff were in attendance at the dinner. Among the attendees were Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary; Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence; Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary; Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary; Steven Cheung, the White House communications director; Kash Patel, the director of the F.B.I.
Hotel’s history: The Washington Hilton is the same hotel outside of which John Hinckley Jr. tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
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