White House Correspondents' Dinner Disrupted by Gunfire: President Trump and Administration Evacuated

During the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, a gunman fired six shots in the lobby. The shooter, a 30-year-old male from Los Angeles, was stopped at the metal detector, subdued by Secret Service agents, and taken into custody. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were evacuated unharmed. A law-enforcement officer was wounded but stable.

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Security for the dinner has traditionally focused on the ballroom, while the hotel’s public areas receive minimal screening. This limited lobby screening has allowed protests and, in this case, enabled a shooter to approach the event before being stopped at the metal detector.

TMZ

9:40 PM ET – Organizers announced the dinner’s cancellation after shots rang in the lobby. ~9:50 PM ET – President Trump and senior officials were escorted out as the National Guard secured the venue. 10:15 PM ET – CNN identified the shooter as a 30-year-old male from Los Angeles. The next night President Trump held a news conference and announced the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days.

TMZ

Shots fired: at least six (witnesses reported five to eight). Attendees: several thousand journalists and hundreds of guests, including senior administration officials. Injuries: none among officials; one officer wounded but stable. Shooter: 30-year-old male, Los Angeles resident, stopped at metal detector.

TMZ

White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang said the dinner will be held again. President Trump, speaking from the White House, said he was unharmed and the event will be rescheduled promptly. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the Secret Service took control of the hotel and that Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Jeffery Carroll were on their way. The Secret Service and National Guard kept a heightened presence.

PBS News Hour

Observers called the incident “baffling,” noting that a firearm reached the secured ballroom despite limited lobby screening. Critics argue that the longstanding focus on the ballroom, rather than comprehensive hotel screening, created a vulnerability the shooter exploited.

TMZ

• “We will do this again,” — Weijia Jiang, President, White House Correspondents' Association

PBS News Hour

• “Out of the way, sir!” — Unidentified attendee

PBS News Hour

• “I have been taken out of the ballroom after the sound of the shots fired. The Secret Service is now in charge of this building, this hotel. I just spoke to Mayor Murial Bowser. She is on her way and (Police) Chief Jeffery Carroll is on his way. He will be in charge as soon as he gets here.” — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney

PBS News Hour

• “10:15 PM ET -- The shooter has been identified as a 30-year-old male from Los Angeles, according to CNN.” — CNN

TMZ

The dinner is slated to reconvene within 30 days, while federal investigators review security protocols at the Washington Hilton and consider expanded screening for all hotel entrances.

PBS News Hour