Photo credit: CNN
US President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, after multiple shots were fired outside the venue, prompting a major security response and the arrest of an armed suspect.
Outlook reports that Trump was rushed from the Washington Hilton after gunfire was heard near the ballroom where the annual event was being held. The dinner was attended by hundreds of journalists, public figures, senior officials and political guests. Trump. First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and members of the Cabinet were all unharmed.
Among those present were Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who were also escorted to safety during the incident.
Speaking at a later press conference, Trump said a man armed with several weapons charged a security screening checkpoint before being confronted and subdued by Secret Service officers.
He described the suspect as a “very sick person” and a “thing”, adding that the attack was directed not only at those attending the event but at the US Constitution itself.
Trump said one Secret Service officer was shot during the confrontation but was protected by a bulletproof vest and was “doing great”.
The US Secret Service said the shooting occurred at a screening area outside the ballroom entrance and confirmed that one suspect was in its custody and alive, contradicting earlier reports that the gunman had been killed.
