A shooting occurred on Saturday evening during the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, in the presence of President Donald Trump for the first time as president. It all started at midnight GMT when the guests ran for cover when they heard the sound of gunshots... So what exactly happened?
Published on: 04/26/2026 - 10:34 Last updated: 04/26/2026 - 10:35
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What exactly happened at the hotel that hosted the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night and Sunday, causing the evacuation of President Donald Trump and government officials?
Here is the chronology of the incident (GMT):
Around 00:35
Guests at a dinner party at the Washington Hilton Hotel ran for cover when they heard gunshots. As a result, members of the Secret Service rushed towards Donald Trump and escorted the president and members of the government out of the concert hall.
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Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and interim Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll later told reporters that a single gunman stormed a Secret Service checkpoint in a hotel lobby. It reported that a member of the Secret Service was injured and taken to a local hospital, adding that the suspect was also taken to a local hospital where he underwent a medical examination.
Read also: A France 24 correspondent in New York tells what happened during the White House Correspondents' Dinner
Carroll stated that the suspect stormed this checkpoint and was armed with a hunting rifle, a pistol, and several knives. While he was passing the checkpoint, he was intercepted by Secret Service personnel.
Around 01:17
Donald Trump made his first comment after the shooting, saying that law enforcement "acted quickly and courageously." He posted on the Truth Social platform that “the shooter has been arrested.” Trump said he recommended continuing the ceremony.
About 20 minutes later, Trump wrote another post in which he said that law enforcement had asked him and others to leave the concert venue and that he had complied with this request. He said that another date for the event would be set “within 30 days.”
At approximately 02:30
Trump addressed the media at a White House news conference, accompanied by the FBI director and acting Attorney General, and said preliminary information indicated the suspect was the lone shooter.
At approximately 03:13
The Colombian prosecutor told reporters that the suspect is charged with using a firearm in connection with the commission of a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
With Reuters
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