Trump Rushed Off Stage After Shots Fired at White House Correspondents' Dinner

3 hours ago 10

President Donald Trump was rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner on Saturday evening after a gunman reportedly opened fire while trying to enter the event.

Video of the incident at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., showed Secret Service agents running onto the stage where the president was sitting before escorting him off. Many of the roughly 2,600 attendees took cover under their tables as gunshots rang out and a voice could be heard shouting, "Get down!"

The Secret Service said in a statement that a person was in custody and it was "investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner."

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, in an interview on the network, said he witnessed a gunman fire a "very serious weapon" at least six times from a few feet away. He added that the shooter "seemed to have gone through the metal detector, but he had a weapon and he was firing a weapon."

A TIME journalist attending the event said Secret Service agents ran through the crowd to escort Trump Administration cabinet members to safety immediately after several loud noises were heard on the ballroom floor. After a few minutes, someone came on to the stage to tell the crowd that the event would resume shortly.

Trump said on Truth Social shortly after the incident that the shooter had been "apprehended" and praised law enforcement.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. 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."

The president followed up soon after with another post saying that law enforcement had requested that he leave the premises, "consistent with protocol, which we will do immediately."

"The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition," he wrote, adding that the event would be rescheduled within 30 days.

The WHCA dinner is an annual event for White House staff and the press, typically featuring comedy and a satirical speech from the president.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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