Trump praises Secret Service after being rushed from shots fired at White House Correspondents Dinner
Trump praises Secret Service after being rushed from shots fired at White House Correspondents Dinner
Ariana Baio Sun, April 26, 2026 at 2:29 AM UTC
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President Donald Trump applauded the Secret Service and law enforcement for acting quickly after a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel Saturday evening.
After being evacuated from the venue, along with other members of the administration, the president wrote on Truth Social that it was “quite an evening” and said he recommended the annual dinner continue as planned.
“The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement,” Trump wrote around 9:20 p.m.
“Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”
Shortly after appetizers were served, a person fired several gunshots near the security checkpoint of the event, sending the entire ballroom into temporary lockdown. Journalists took cover underneath tables, including The Independent reporters.
One U.S. Secret Service agent was reportedly shot, but their condition is currently unknown.
Secret Service members demanded the president take cover after a person opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (AP)What happened
Shortly after the appetizers were served, dinner attendees heard several gunshots ring out.
Reporters from The Independent, who were seated at a table in the back of the ballroom, said they heard approximately five gunshots before watching agents draw their firearms. Upon realizing what was happening, guests took cover underneath tables.
Secret Service swarmed the banquet hall, yelling at the president to get out of the way and demanding that people duck.
The president and first lady were swiftly removed from the scene.
One woman, who was seated at a table with reporters, began crying, saying the incident was the scariest thing she had ever experienced, according to The Independent’s John Bowden.
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Wolf Blitzer, a long-time CNN journalist, said he saw “the shooter was clearly on the ground.”
Other members of the Trump administration who were in attendance, including Vice President JD Vance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was one of the Trump administration members who was rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday evening (Reuters)
The president immediately returned to the White House to prepare to give an official statement from the briefing room.
Trump’s appearance at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner marked the first time he was attending the annual event that raises money for the White House Correspondents’ Association since he became president in 2016.
Members of the media take cover after a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (Reuters)Who is the shooter?
No information is currently known about the suspected shooter.
The FBI confirmed it had taken the person suspected of opening fire into custody.
The person reportedly began shooting near the security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
One Secret Service agent was shot, three people familiar with the matter told CNN. The bullet allegedly struck the agent’s protective gear. The agent was taken to a nearby hospital. Their condition is currently known.
An ambulance awaits White House Correspondents’ dinner attendees after a shooter opened fire at the annual event (Reuters)How did a gun get inside the premises?
It’s unclear at this time how a firearm entered the Washington Hilton Hotel at this time.
The person opened fire near the security clearance area.
More follows...
Source: “AOL Breaking”
