Gunfire was heard Saturday evening during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which Donald Trump participated in for the first time as president. The US President was evacuated along with a number of officials, while the authorities arrested an unidentified suspect.

Published on: 04/26/2026 - 04:15 Last updated: 04/26/2026 - 07:57

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US President Donald Trump was evacuated on Saturday evening, April 25, from the White House Correspondents' Dinner, after gunfire was heard during the event, while authorities arrested a suspect, according to what security officials and journalists from Agence France-Presse reported.

The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting senior political figures in the United States, confirmed that Trump and his wife Melania are “safe.”

Hundreds of people participated in this annual event, which was held inside a large hotel in Washington, before the hall was completely evacuated. The evacuation included a number of senior officials in the US administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

There was a state of extreme confusion regarding the exact circumstances of the incident that occurred during the dinner, in Trump's first participation in this event as president, without any official information having been received so far about any injuries.

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Suspect arrested

One of the attendees, doctor Mehmet Oz, said he heard “gunshots” during the event.

Video footage showed Trump sitting at the honor table wearing a formal suit and tie, while faint voices rang out in the hall without initially provoking any reaction.

The audience did not begin to realize that the accident had occurred until seconds later, as First Lady Melania Trump appeared in a state of anxiety, while the President did not show any reaction in those first moments.

Heavily armed security personnel quickly intervened, as Trump was removed from the stage towards its left side, while the music stopped, and security forces deployed inside the hall, with some of them bypassing the tables and pointing their weapons at the audience as a precaution.

Silence fell inside the hall, and the guests, sitting at round tables, resorted to hiding under them after a moment of astonishment.

Through his platform, “Truth Social,” Trump praised the work of the security services, saying that “a suspect was arrested,” and expressing his hope that the concert would resume, without it being immediately clear whether that was possible.

Trump: The attacker acted alone and I was the target

During a press conference following the incident, Donald Trump said he believed he was the target, describing the suspect as a "potential killer" and a "lone wolf," noting that he had "many weapons" and that he likely acted alone. He added that the suspect opened fire on a security officer, who was injured but was in “very good condition” thanks to him wearing a bullet-proof vest.

Trump stressed that he does not believe there is a link between the incident and the escalation with Iran. Adding that this incident will not stop him from winning the Iran war. In response to a question about whether the incident would prompt a reconsideration of organizing events in closed places, he said that he “cannot do that.”

Trump considered that the hotel that hosted the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday evening was "not particularly safe." He added: "We looked at all the circumstances that happened tonight, and I will say, you know, it's not a particularly safe building."

In this context, an official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that the Counter-Terrorism Unit would lead the investigation into the shooting incident, at a time when initial data indicated that the attacker had acted alone.

The mayor of Washington reported that one gunman stormed a Secret Service checkpoint in the lobby, before he was arrested by a member of the Secret Service, indicating that there was no reason to believe that there were others involved in the incident.

For his part, a security official said that the suspect was armed with a rifle, a pistol, and several bladed weapons, adding that he was taken to the hospital for examinations.

The Acting Minister of Justice also announced that two charges have been brought against the suspect, and that he will appear in court on Monday.

In turn, the Washington DC Police Chief confirmed that the motive behind the incident is still unknown, indicating that the investigations are focusing on identifying the potential target of the attack. He added that initial indications indicate that the incident was an isolated incident, and that the suspect was a guest at the hotel, and he will be charged on Monday with charges related to possession of weapons and assault.

Trump's first appearance as president

Police cordoned off the area, while helicopters flew over downtown Washington.

This annual event is organized by the White House Correspondents Association, which brings together hundreds of journalists and officials of media organizations, along with political and economic figures, and is usually held at the end of April with the aim of collecting donations and awarding journalistic awards.

Since his return to power, Trump has repeatedly criticized the media, both politically and judicially, at a time when his allies continue to expand their influence within the media scene.

It is noteworthy that Trump, unlike his predecessors since the 1920s, boycotted this dinner as president, before participating in it this year for the first time in this capacity.

France 24/AFP/Reuters

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