Washington: The horrific incident of firing during the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association in the US capital on Saturday night turned the entire event into chaos. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and several key Cabinet members were quickly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents.
According to initial reports, no one has been killed, although a Secret Service agent was hit by a bullet in his bullet-proof jacket, but is said to be unharmed. The attacker has been taken into custody.
What happened exactly?
The event took place in the banquet hall of the Washington Hilton Hotel, where hundreds of journalists, politicians and dignitaries were enjoying “Spring Pea” and “Burrata Salad”. At around 8:40 pm, an attacker tried to enter inside by dodging the security near the main security checkpoint. He was armed with weapons such as a shotgun, handgun and knife and opened fire.
As soon as the sound of firing was heard, there was chaos in the ballroom. The guests hid under the tables, people started screaming. Some chanted “Move aside sir!” and “Bend down!” Some chanted “God Bless America”. Trump was on the stage, from where he was quickly taken out by Secret Service agents. During this, Trump faltered for a moment, but the agents immediately took care of him.
The program was immediately cancelled. Staff began removing table decorations and the President’s speaking platform.
Who is the attacker?
According to police and officials, the attacker was alone and was arrested on the spot. The mayor of Washington and the police department confirmed that the suspect was caught firing at a security checkpoint. Trump later confirmed this in the press conference and praised the security forces.
WHCA response
“We will hold this event again,” said Weijia Jiang, chairwoman of the White House Correspondents’ Association. Despite the incident, the union stressed the importance of press freedom and democracy.
Trump later addressed reporters from the White House, saying the security forces did a great job and quickly brought the situation under control. He described the attacker as “armed with a lot of weapons”.
The incident has forever made the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner memorable (and controversial) — even as Trump attended the event for the second time as president.
The investigation is still ongoing and further details are expected to emerge. Security agencies are investigating the entire matter in depth.
Comments are closed.