An armed individual disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening, forcing the evacuation of President Donald Trump and his administration officials before law enforcement apprehended the suspect.
The incident began at approximately 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time when dinner attendees heard gunshots and immediately sought shelter, according to video evidence from the scene. Secret Service personnel quickly moved to protect the president and his cabinet members, escorting them from the ballroom.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll later briefed reporters that a single assailant had attempted to breach a Secret Service security checkpoint in the hotel’s lobby area. The individual was carrying a shotgun, handgun, and several knives when he attempted to rush past the checkpoint, Carroll explained.
Secret Service agents intercepted the armed individual as he tried to advance through the security barrier. During the confrontation, law enforcement personnel engaged in gunfire with the suspect, though he was not hit by any bullets.
“We do know that law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the individual. … The suspect in this case, he was not struck by gunfire,” Carroll stated. “Law enforcement … they actually tackled him into the ground and handcuffed him.”
One Secret Service agent sustained injuries during the incident and was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The suspect was also transported to a hospital for evaluation, according to the mayor.
At 9:17 p.m. Eastern Time, Trump issued his initial statement regarding the incident through his Truth Social platform, praising law enforcement for acting “quickly and bravely.” He confirmed that “the shooter has been apprehended” and initially suggested the dinner should proceed as planned.
However, approximately twenty minutes later, Trump posted another update indicating that law enforcement had requested all attendees leave the venue, and he was following their directive. He announced the event would be rescheduled “within 30 days.”
Trump held a press conference at the White House around 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, joined by the FBI director and acting U.S. attorney general. Officials indicated preliminary findings suggested the perpetrator acted alone.
At 11:13 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the suspect would face charges for using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
