Apr 25, 2026 5:51pm PT

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: President Trump and First Lady Evacuated After Shots Fired; Trump to Hold Press Conference as He Vows to Reschedule

Chaos erupts at Washington Hilton; shooter in custody and Trump administration officials reported safe

Brian Steinberg, Cynthia Littleton

Getty Images

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was turned upside down Saturday night as a gunman was taken into custody after shots were fired near the ballroom at the Washington Hilton. President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other administration officials were evacuated by the Secret Service after the shots disrupted the annual gala fundraiser event.

President Trump and first lady and numerous cabinet officials were swiftly evacuated from the event as the shooter was tackled by law enforcement. On a night that was to mark Trump’s first time at the WHCA dinner as president, the commander-in-chief ended it with plans for an impromptu White House briefing that is expected to take place after 10 p.m. ET. CNN reported that a Secret Service agent wearing protective gear had been shot and taken to the hospital.

White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting: President Trump and First Lady Evacuated After Shots Fired; Trump to Hold Press Conference as He Vows to Reschedule