Recommendations of the Editorial team
US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC on Saturday evening (April 25). The two were led away from the stage they were sitting on, after loud noises were heard from inside the ballroom.
At first it was unclear where the noises came from. Trump wrote on Truth Social that a suspected shooter had been arrested. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer reported seeing an armed man outside the ballroom where he was attending the dinner. According to the New York Times, a suspect was stopped at the security perimeter and taken into custody.
“A memorable evening in DC The Secret Service and law enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and boldly,” Trump wrote. “The shooter has been arrested and I have recommended ‘LET THE SHOW CONTINUE,’ but will be entirely guided by law enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless, the evening will be very different than planned and we will simply have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
No injuries reported
No injuries were reported. The remaining guests – including journalists, politicians and celebrities – were not evacuated after the incident. The incident occurred approximately 45 minutes into the event.
While the live stream showed security forces rushing through the rows of tables, men with guns also appeared on the stage. According to several reports, the dinner will continue. However, the NYT reports that Trump left the event for the night.
Trump attended the dinner for the first time as president. The mentalist Oz Pearlman was scheduled to be the moderator. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been held annually since 1921. Hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), it is a fundraiser to promote young journalists and recognize those who cover the government.
