US President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner by Secret Service on Saturday evening, after shots were fired outside of the ballroom where the dinner was being held.
Shortly before being escorted off the stage by security, Melania Trump appeared to react to something in the crowd and had a concerned look on her face, according to a live feed from CSPAN.
US Vice President JD Vance and other members of Trump’s cabinet present at the dinner were also rushed out by their respective security teams, as was Erica Kirke.
US Vice President JD Vance and other members of Trump’s cabinet present at the dinner were also rushed out by their respective security teams, as was Erica Kirke. Many of the 2,600 other attendees took cover while waiters fled to the front of the dining hall.
“Quite an evening in DC,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday evening. “Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely.”
“They acted quickly and bravely,” he wrote, “The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.”
In a second Truth Social post, Trump said he would be delivering a statement from the White House Briefing Room within the next half hour, and that the event will be reheld within the next thirty days.
The US Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department are investigated the incident, the Secret Service said in a statement post to X/Twitter, confirming that “the president and the first lady are safe along all protectees.”
One suspect is in custody, the Secret Service added.
A law enforcement source told CBS that the shooter was apparently in the hallway outside the ballroom, by the metal detectors.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer said in a post to X that he is closely monitoring the situation and that he is “grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and am praying everyone remains safe.”
“Very thankful to God that President Trump and the First Lady, Vice President Vance and the Second Lady are okay, as well as everyone else attending the dinner,” Senator Lindsey Graham said in his own X post. “The only thing I’m certain of is that the times in which we live are creating a stream of threats that are unprecedented against President Trump and other government officials.”
“To the brave law enforcement officers who were there to protect, well done. To the American people, let’s all pray for calmer waters and try to be part of the solution, not the problem.
This is a developing story.
Reuters contributed to this report.
