Donald and Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday evening after the event was interrupted by loud gunshots. A suspect was in custody, the FBI said, after the annual black tie dinner honoring the White House press corps in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton was suddenly interrupted by confusion and chaos. Journalists ducked under tables as authorities rushed the president and members of his cabinet out of the room.
There were reports that the US Secret Service had guns drawn as White House pool reporters were rushed out of the room and Secret Service agents yelled “shots fired”. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, who was unharmed, praised the Secret Service and law enforcement and said the shooter had been apprehended. Guardian reporters in the room said there were initially mixed messages about whether press and guests should stay in the room. Eventually, the entire room emptied as attendees were told the event would not resume and the presidential seal was removed from the podium.
