The president Donald Trump and the first wife Melania Trump were rushed off stage at a press dinner at the White House in Washington DC after shots were fired.
CNN reported that Donald, 79, Melania, 56, and the White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavittt were “safe” after they were removed for security reasons.
“The suspect is in custody,” a Secret Service spokesman told CNN.
A spokesman for the Secret Service told the media that the shooting happened near a “large magnetometer” at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. Per the Secret Service, the suspect’s condition is “unknown.”
Trump broke his silence on Truth Social, writing, “One night in DC Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a great job. They acted quickly and boldly. The shooter is arrested, and I recommend ‘LET THE QUESTION CONTINUE’ but, we will be completely directed by the Law Enforcement. They will make a decision soon, it will be that we plan, anyway, the evening will be planned. It is clear, I have to do it again.”
Guests take cover after an anonymous security event at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 25.
Nathan Howard/Getty ImagesThe network reported that Trump had been taken to a “safe location” but wanted to return to deliver remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was also moved to a safe location during the chaos, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association pool.
CEO of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk He was also present at this event and it is said that he was seen crying after the gun was fired, according to CNN. (Erika’s husband, a conservative activist Charlie Kirkwas killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. He was 31 years old.)
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin he told reporters that he was taken to the ground for safety by the Secret Service.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitz – who was present at the event – revealed on air that “very loud, very scary” gunshots were heard outside the main stadium where the annual event was held.
Agents pulled their guns after a loud noise was heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Getty Images/Mandel NGAN/AFP“Obviously they found the gunman … It was very scary,” Blitzer, 78, shared on air by phone. “It was just a terrible, scary, scary moment for me. … The incident seems to be over.”
Blitzer added that he saw the shooter “on the ground” after being apprehended by police. “I might be wrong,” he said later about whether or not the shooter had been shot. “There are many law enforcement officers here who deal with this.”
A few minutes after the security incident, the spokesperson returned to the arena to announce that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner would go ahead.
“The program will resume soon,” the reporter and White House Press Secretary Weijia Jiang said those in the room. “We will have more information to share shortly, but for now, please be patient.”
Charlie Kirk’s co-stars are returning to their podcast days after the 31-year-old’s death. On the Friday, September 12, episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, hosted by Jack Posobiec, James O’Keefe and Kash Patel, an empty seat was shown as a tribute to Kirk. “Charlie would have wanted us here,” said another […]
Later, Jiang returned to the arena to announce, “The law enforcement has asked us to leave this place. … [The president] he wanted to emphasize that no one was hurt. The Cabinet and the first lady, everyone is safe.”
“I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service because when there is an emergency we run away from the crisis, not away from it…I saw you all reporting and that’s what we do,” Jiang continued. “Thank God everyone is safe and thank you for being together tonight.”
Trump was making his first appearance as two presidents at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, having skipped the event from 2017 to 2020 and last year amid his ongoing attacks against the media – which he often calls “unofficial news.” Although the event was hosted by a comedian, a genius and a magician Oz Pearlman got a job this year.
In July 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt when he was shot in the upper ear during a campaign speech near Butler, Pennsylvania. A member of the audience Corey Compatore He died and two others who attended the event were seriously injured.
Authorities reported that Thomas Crooks20, fired eight times from an AR-15-style rifle on the roof of the rally before he was killed in a shootout with law enforcement at the scene.
