President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet were evacuated from the White House correspondents’ dinner after a gunman opened fire at the event on Saturday night.
Trump, Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with many others were all seen being escorted out of the Washington Hilton, the hotel where the event was being held. Attendees were also seen hiding under tables as Secret Service escorted officials out.
Trump responded to the shooting in a Truth Social post after being safely escorted away from the scene, saying one shooter had been apprehended. Fox News reported that a Secret Service agent was shot in their protective vest by the gunman and is expected to be OK.
Both the FBI and Secret Service confirmed that the suspected shooter is now in custody. Secret Service said in a statement that the shooting took place in the “main magnetometer screening area” of the hotel.
“The president and the first lady are safe along all protectees,” the Secret Service said. “One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”
Trump later released both video of the shooting incident and photos of the alleged shooter.
The video shows Secret Service agents standing in part of the hotel before being ambushed by the shooter, with one agent then discharging his weapon.
The photos of the alleged shooter are of a man in handcuffs laying face-down on the ground surrounded by law enforcement. Trump said at a late-night press conference that the suspect is from California and police are en route to his apartment.
Witness accounts poured in, as thousands attend the dinner each year.
One of those was from CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who said he was near the gunman and heard gunshots as he was heading to the restroom. A Fox News correspondent also witnessed Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk in tears after the shooting and being escorted out of the hotel.
Organizers initially said the event would continue after officers secured the scene. But Trump provided an update later, saying the event was canceled and would be rescheduled in 30 days.
Attendees were subsequently ordered to leave the premises immediately. Footage from outside the event showed a massive police presence, with police vans, ambulances, and helicopters near the venue.
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Melania Trump and U.S. President Donald Trump attend as Mentalist Oz Pearlman hosts The White House Correspondents Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for OP) -
People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) -
Katie Miller and Stephen Miller are escorted 1after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Gettyimages) -
Guests take cover after a un-kown safety event took place as President Donald Trump was to speak to attendees of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) -
Attendees are seen inside the ballroom after shots were reportedly fired during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images) -
Attendees are seen inside the ballroom after shots were reportedly fired during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images) -
Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images) -
Law enforcement officers respond to reports of a shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) -
Law enforcement officers surround Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and his wife, actress Cheryl Hines following reports of a shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) -
A Secret Service police officer walks through the lobby of the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) -
Guests walk away from the Washington Hilton amid a heavy police presence after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Ulysse BELLIER / AFP via Getty Images)
