Suspect Apprehended After Gunfire at Dinner Attended by Trump

April 25, 2026

President Donald Trump was evacuated from the Washington Hilton hotel, where journalists and celebrities were gathered for the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in the nation's capital.

On the evening of April 25, 2026, at around 9:38 p.m. ET, chaos erupted at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, prompting the swift removal of President Trump. Reports indicated gunfire at the Washington Hilton, leading to a quick response from the Secret Service, who took a suspect into custody.

According to accounts from the White House press pool, as the president was preparing to speak, a member of the Secret Service yelled, “Shots fired.” Agents quickly drew their weapons and rushed through the crowd toward the president’s location. Although Trump later took to social media to say, “LET THE SHOW GO ON,” he was in the process of leaving the venue.

As guests enjoyed their meals, the atmosphere shifted abruptly when a disturbance broke out at the back of the ballroom. Gasps filled the room as hundreds of attendees ducked for cover under their tables. Security personnel, armed and alert, hurried to the stage, where the president and First Lady Melania Trump were promptly escorted to safety.

The shooter has been apprehended

Trump posted to Truth Social that a shooter has been apprehended at the correspondents' dinner.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement," he wrote in a post.

"They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain have to do it again," he said.

This is the first time Trump is attending the event after boycotting it in previous years.

Apparently, the man tried to breach the secured area policed by Special Agents, fully armed, shot an officer, who is OK, before he was detained by the authorities. He never reached the ballroom, per se.