A shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night sent the ballroom into chaos, forcing the immediate evacuation of President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump as Secret Service agents drew weapons and ushered guests to safety.
The gunfire erupted near the main magnetometer screening area at the Washington Hilton, where hundreds of journalists and dignitaries had gathered for the annual event. Attendees dove under tables for cover as law enforcement rushed to secure the room and remove the president's detail.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that one individual is in custody following the incident. "The president and the first lady are safe, along with everyone who was at the dinner and in the protection of Secret Service," Guglielmi said in a statement. He added that law enforcement was actively assessing the situation and that the condition of those involved had not yet been determined.
According to a law enforcement official, an officer was struck in a bullet-resistant vest but is expected to recover without serious injury.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer was positioned just feet from the shooter when the gunfire began. "I happened to have been a few feet away from him," Blitzer said during a live call into his network. "As he was shooting, the first thing that went through my mind was, is he trying to shoot me? And I don't think he was trying to shoot me, but I was very close to him as the gunshots were fired and he was very very scary." Blitzer confirmed he was unharmed.
Trump announced the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days. "The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition," the president posted on Truth Social on Saturday evening. "We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days."
Author James Rodriguez: "A shooting at one of Washington's highest-profile media events with the president present is the kind of security breach that raises hard questions about access and screening, regardless of the final outcome."
Comments