A gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, triggering a chaotic evacuation of President Donald Trump, the First Lady, Vice President JD Vance, and several Cabinet members from the Washington Hilton ballroom. The incident — the third apparent assassination attempt involving Trump in less than two years — unfolded just minutes after the high-profile annual gala got underway.
What happend in the incident
At least five shots were heard around 8:35 p.m. as attendees were finishing their first course, only moments after White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang had delivered opening remarks. Trump, who was seated at the front of the ballroom alongside Melania Trump, was immediately surrounded by Secret Service agents as guests throughout the room ducked under their tables.
A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons and was taken down by Secret Service agents. Trump later told reporters the suspect “charged from 50 yards away,” well outside the ballroom itself.
Conflicting Reports on Shooting
A jornalist who was near the lobby area at the time, reported witnessing the shooter directly. Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s security detail confirmed to a source on air that there was a shooter in the lobby — and that he had been killed. Deadline However, later official statements indicated the suspect was taken into custody alive.
One law enforcement officer was shot during the response but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover, according to President Trump.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking at a White House press briefing shortly after the incident, said charges are expected to be filed imminently. “The charges should be self-evident given the conduct,” Blanche stated, adding that multiple charges related to the shooting and firearm possession are being pursued.
Addressing reporters from the White House briefing room — flanked by Vice President Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin — Trump described the suspect as someone who “looked pretty evil” and said authorities believe he was acting alone. “They seem to think he was a lone wolf. And I feel that too,” the president said. He added that the suspect appears to be a California resident and that federal investigators were heading to his home.
When asked whether he believed he was the intended target, Trump answered plainly: “I guess.”
On Truth Social, Trump described the Secret Service and law enforcement response as “fantastic,” writing that agents “acted quickly and bravely.” He confirmed that Melania Trump and all Cabinet members present were in “perfect condition” and announced that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
Leaders from both parties quickly condemned the attack. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed gratitude for the rapid response by law enforcement, noting that their actions helped protect attendees from gunfire at the White House Correspondents Dinner. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was present with his wife Kelly, also thanked first responders for their swift intervention.
Following the incident, WHCA President Weijia Jiang spoke to the gathered journalists, emphasizing the role of the press in times of crisis. She remarked that journalism serves the public by moving toward danger rather than away from it, and expressed relief that everyone remained safe.
This incident comes amid a documented rise in political violence in the United States. Trump survived two separate assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign season — one at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. NBC News Saturday night marks the third such episode targeting the president.
The investigation is ongoing. The suspect’s identity, precise motive, and the full sequence of events have not yet been officially confirmed. This story is developing.
