Gunfire Sparks Panic at Washington Gala as Trump Evacuated, Suspect Arrested

President Donald Trump was hurried off stage on Saturday after gunfire disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, sending guests scrambling for safety.

Authorities said the suspected shooter was detained near a security screening area outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile event was underway.

Security personnel moved quickly, escorting Trump from the venue as law enforcement officers flooded the area. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with attendees taking cover under tables while heavily armed tactical teams secured the stage.

“Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended,” Trump said.

He also reassured the public that senior officials were unharmed.
“Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises… The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” he added.

Trump said he would address the incident at a press conference and indicated plans to reschedule the dinner within a month.

The Secret Service confirmed a suspect is in custody and said the shooting took place near the main entry screening point.

The incident unfolded during dinner, before Trump’s scheduled remarks. Among those evacuated was cabinet member Mehmet Oz, who reportedly alerted others by saying “shots fired upstairs.”

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a long-running gathering of journalists and political figures, was ultimately postponed after initial plans to continue.

The Washington Hilton has previously been the scene of a presidential shooting, when Ronald Reagan was wounded in 1981.

The scare adds to a series of past security incidents involving Trump, including a 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally and another thwarted threat in Florida.

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