A violent incident took place during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner, which was held in Washington on the evening of the 25th (local time), leading to the immediate evacuation of U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior U.S. government officials. In the midst of confusion, guests quickly took cover to protect themselves. Authorities reportedly detained a suspect on the premises. To date, there have been no reports of injuries.
The event occurred in the basement banquet hall of the Washington Hilton Hotel. President Trump was arriving at the location as the “Presidential Hymn” was being played, greeting several prominent journalists such as Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary. Suddenly, gunshots disrupted the gathering, leading to an immediate response from Secret Service agents. Guests, shocked, quickly dropped to the ground, causing chaos. President Trump and other important individuals were rapidly taken away with agent protection, while law enforcement officials detained the suspect and are examining the situation in detail.
The dinner was attended by Vice President JD Vance, Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, Tsulsee Gaebeodeu, Director of the National Intelligence (DNI), and other senior White House staff who accompanied President Trump. Moreover, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Minister of Health and Welfare, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—prominent members of the Trump administration—were confirmed as guests invited by media organizations.
This gathering attracted considerable interest even prior to the incident, as it represented President Trump’s initial participation at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in his official presidential role. He had not been present during his first term or the initial year of his second term.
Amid continuous disputes between the current government and the press, attendance levels increased tensions. The Trump administration has had conflicts with prominent media organizations such as The New York Times (NYT), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and the Associated Press (AP), involving court cases or limiting media access to the Department of Defense.
Highlighting these conflicts, around 500 ex-journalists endorsed a petition against President Trump’s restriction of press freedom before the event. Prior to the occurrence, several demonstrators assembled outside the location, with some displaying signs that stated “The Press Is Dead” as a form of demonstration.
◇Trump: “Perpetrator Arrested… Authorities’ Reaction Was Excellent”
Not long after the evacuation, President Trump personally verified his well-being through his social media site, Truth Social, and provided information about the circumstances.
He showed appreciation, saying, “It was an exceptionally remarkable night in Washington, D.C. The Secret Service and police departments performed exceptionally well. They acted quickly and courageously.” He further mentioned, “The individual who opened fire has been taken into custody, and although I suggested, ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON,’ I will completely adhere to the instructions from law enforcement,” pointing out that a determination from officials is expected soon.
He further stated, “No matter what choice is taken, this evening will be quite different from the original plan, and we might have to begin this event all over again.”
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