President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The incident prompted an immediate security response, with Secret Service agents evacuating the president, first lady, and other top officials to the White House.
Law enforcement officials confirmed one officer was shot but survived due to wearing a bulletproof vest. President Trump stated he spoke with the injured officer, who was in good spirits following the incident.
Attendees dropped to the floor and took cover under tables as chaos unfolded in the ballroom. Banquet chairs toppled and maroon napkins scattered across the floor during the evacuation.
The Secret Service reported that one individual was taken into custody after opening fire near the hotel’s screening area. The agency confirmed the president, first lady, vice president, and all Cabinet officials remained safe.
President Trump praised the rapid response by law enforcement, describing it as “a very beautiful thing” and characterizing the assailant as a “thug.” He later shared images on Truth Social showing the suspect being detained.
The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner was canceled following the security incident, with plans to reschedule the event in the near future. The Washington Hilton, where the shooting occurred, is the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was wounded in an assassination attempt in March 1981.
President Trump noted this marked his first attendance at the annual dinner in over a decade and his first ever as president, having previously skipped the event during his tenure.
The incident underscores ongoing security concerns surrounding high-profile political gatherings in Washington, D.C., particularly at venues with historical significance to presidential safety.
