Updated April 26, 2026 at 12:19 AM EDT
A sense of urgency swept through the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., when a shooting incident unfolded on Saturday evening. President Trump and the first lady were unharmed, as confirmed by the U.S. Secret Service, with a suspect already in custody.
In a statement from the White House, President Trump mentioned that a Secret Service agent was shot but is “doing great” thanks to the protection of a bulletproof vest. The encounter occurred at a security checkpoint near the main ballroom entrance, where the dinner was hosted.
President Trump released surveillance footage on social media, showing law enforcement in pursuit of the suspect. Images of a man lying shirtless and face down were also shared, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announcing forthcoming charges against the suspect.
At a press briefing, Jeffery Carroll of DC’s Metropolitan Police detailed that the suspect was in possession of a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.
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The suspect, believed to be a hotel guest, is facing charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer, with additional charges anticipated, stated Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The suspect is currently under medical evaluation at a local hospital and was not injured by gunfire.
A chaotic scene
Reporters present at the Washington Hilton heard what sounded like gunshots around 8:30 p.m. ET. Attendees, including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other officials, were seen evacuating the ballroom where the event was in full swing.
Security footage captured the rapid response as guests were evacuated from the main stage. A voice can be heard instructing everyone to “stay down.”
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President Trump promptly acknowledged the Secret Service’s efforts on social media.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again,” Trump posted.
Security personnel were observed escorting high-profile cabinet members, including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, and FBI Director Kash Patel, to secure rooms within the hotel.
The president later assured on social media that all cabinet members were safe.
Congress members, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., were seen leaving the event on foot.
“I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service, because when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it. And on a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are,” commented Weijia Jiang, president of the correspondents’ association. “I saw all of you reporting, and that’s what we do. Thank God everybody’s safe and and thank you for coming together tonight. We will do this again.”
Attacks on Trump and the press
Incidents of violence targeting President Trump and the press have been reported in recent years.
In 2024, during his reelection campaign, President Trump was grazed by a bullet at a rally in Pennsylvania, which also left two attendees wounded. The shooter was neutralized by a Secret Service sniper.
Another incident in September 2024 involved a suspect at Trump International in West Palm Beach, discovered with a semi-automatic rifle by a Secret Service agent. The suspect was apprehended after fleeing.
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The suspect was later sentenced to life imprisonment.
On January 6, 2021, during the U.S. Capitol riot, over a dozen journalists were targeted, with “Murder the media” etched into a doorway. According to the Freedom of the Press foundation, these were deliberate attacks.
In 2018, a man sent pipe bombs to Trump critics, including CNN, resulting in a 20-year prison sentence.
The Washington Hilton, site of Saturday’s event, was also where President Reagan was shot in 1981, sustaining serious injuries. The attack, which injured three others including press secretary James Brady, led to significant gun control advocacy by Brady.
In honor of Brady, the White House Press Briefing Room was named after him.
— Deepa Shivaram contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 NPR
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