President Donald Trump was swiftly escorted off the stage and out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, after a security incident on Saturday, with Secret Service agents and other law enforcement responding and one person taken into custody. The event, staged inside the Washington Hilton, turned into a controlled evacuation as protectees at the head table were rushed out and armed agents moved through the room with weapons drawn.
Who Got Rushed Out First
Attendees reported hearing shouting, shots fired and several people taking cover under tables as Secret Service agents escorted the president, the first lady, Cabinet secretaries and others at the head table out of the room. Secret Service agents moved into position at the head table with weapons drawn as they scanned the room. Fox News said Trump was seen being quickly escorted out of the room by security, while White House officials told Fox News Digital that he, the First Lady and Karoline Leavitt were safe at that time.
CNN said President Donald Trump was swiftly escorted off the stage by Secret Service after possible shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, on Saturday. CNN said Vice President JD Vance and members of Trump’s Cabinet who were also in attendance were also rushed out. CNN said a source told the network that Trump was safe, while two sources said Vance was safely out of the dinner, and that according to an administration official, Cabinet members were OK as well.
What the Security Apparatus Said
Secret Service chief spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement: "The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The president and the first lady are safe along all protectees. One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation."
Fox News said the FBI told the network that a gunman stormed through the main magnetometer near the entrance of the Washington Hilton ballroom and opened fire. Fox News said a Secret Service agent was hit in the vest but was in stable condition, and that the counter-assault team neutralized the threat. Fox News also said Secret Service worked to determine whether there were any other threats and determined there were not. The suspect was in custody, the Secret Service confirmed.
CNN said several US Secret Service agents yelled, "shots fired" during the event, which was being held at the Washington Hilton, according to pool reports. CNN said Secret Service later said in a post on X that one person was in custody. CNN said Trump is in a secure location and has told officials that he intends to return to the dinner, according to a senior administration official. Trump later said he was returning to the White House after law enforcement officials requested that he leave the location. He said he would give a press conference momentarily.
What People Heard, and What They Did
Fox News quoted Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., as saying on X: "Was just at the White House Correspondents Dinner. I was walking down the escalators from the lobby when, at the bottom of the escalators, 2 security people with guns were running through and yelling "watch out for crossfire." I got behind a pillar with another person then slowly snuck out a back exit while hearing more commotion and police. Thank you to Secret Service, Capitol Police, DC Metropolitan Police and all law enforcement for their quick response."
Fox News’ Bret Baier said, "I was really concerned. I heard shots and everyone jumped down." He added, "Within seconds the place was filled with Secret Service agents, guns drawn."
CNN said Trump took to Truth Social to share that a "shooter has been apprehended" and to applaud Secret Service and law enforcement officers for acting "quickly and bravely." Fox News said protesters had gathered outside the Washington Hilton earlier in the evening, though it was unclear whether the two events were connected.
The incident unfolded with multiple, conflicting descriptions from the networks and officials, including shots fired, a gunman, and an unspecified threat, while the response from Secret Service and other law enforcement was immediate and overwhelming. The dinner’s guests, staff, and nearby attendees were the ones forced to duck, hide, and exit through back routes while the people with badges and guns took control of the room.