US President Donald Trump was rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night after multiple gunshots were reported near the venue, triggering panic among attendees.
The US Secret Service later confirmed that the President, the First Lady, Vice President and all other protectees were safe. Officials said a suspected shooter has been apprehended, reports BBC.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the annual event was being held. Journalists and guests ducked under tables as security personnel moved swiftly to secure the area. “We all crawled under our table for what felt like a long time,” a BBC journalist present at the event said.
According to reports, the disturbance began around 8:30 pm local time, when loud noises, initially mistaken for breaking glass, were heard. Within moments, Secret Service agents evacuated the main stage and began ushering attendees out, declaring the venue a “crime scene”.
The presidential motorcade was seen leaving shortly after, and a heavy security cordon was placed around the hotel. In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that all senior officials were “in perfect condition” and announced that the dinner would be postponed and rescheduled within 30 days. He is expected to address the media shortly from the White House. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the suspect or the motive behind the incident.
