The 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner wrapped early on Saturday night as gunshots were heard in the lobby outside of the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel, which caused President Trump and his family to evacuate, and many of the journalists who were in attendance reported on the event in real time from their phones.
Attendees quickly took to X in order to describe the scene, such as Tony Morrison, who wrote, “NOW: Reports of shots fired at WHCD and that secret service has neutralized an assailant in the lobby of the Washington Hilton. My clients and I are safe and left the event 10 minutes prior to the incident. My colleagues and friends on lockdown in the ballroom.”
Political pundit Kevin Walling wrote on X, “The scene from the red carpet at the #WHCD moments after multiple shots fired on the other side of the doors to the ballroom,” coupling it with a video.
Journalist Leonardo Feldman, Newsweek’s White House reporter, wrote, “Something I noticed even before coming into the #WHCADinner was that the security was only outside the ballroom inside, not outside the building. So the entrance of the building did not have a security machine only guards, you only went through the screening before the ballroom.”
Following the incident, Trump took to Truth Social, writing, “Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”
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