Trump safe after shooting at White House correspondents’ dinner; suspect in custody

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner by Secret Service agents on Saturday night after a man armed with a shotgun attempted to breach security at the event, officials said.

The armed individual fired at a Secret Service agent near the main screening area at the entrance. The agent was struck in an area protected by body armor and was not injured, according to an FBI official. All federal officials, including the president, remained safe.

About an hour after the incident, Trump posted on Truth Social confirming that the shooter had been apprehended. He praised the Secret Service and law enforcement, writing: “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job.” He later added that the First Lady, Vice President, and all Cabinet members were in perfect condition and announced plans for a White House press conference that night.

Attendees described chaotic scenes inside the Washington Hilton ballroom. After the sound of shots, the roughly 2,600 guests fell silent before screams of “Get down, get down!” erupted. Many dove under tables for cover, while waiters fled toward the front of the hall.

Video of the scene inside the WHCD pic.twitter.com/tdxTWYVSeU
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) April 26, 2026

Security agents quickly pushed Cabinet officials to the ground, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Personnel in combat fatigues stormed the stage, evacuated Trump and Melania Trump (who had ducked behind the dais), and positioned themselves with rifles pointed into the ballroom. Cabinet members were evacuated one by one. Trump reportedly stayed backstage for about an hour, telling others, “We are staying.”

The event was ultimately cancelled. Trump expressed hope on social media that it could be rescheduled in about 30 days. This marked the first time Trump attended the correspondents’ dinner as president.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the agency was investigating the shooting near the entrance screening area.

Back in the White House, Trump said he did not think the incident was tied to the war in Iran based on information so far, but he added that his actions toward Tehran could have made him a target and that he would not be deterred.

“When you do things like that, you become a target. If I wasn’t doing that, I guess I’d be a lot less of a target, but I’m honoured to be,” he told reporters.

“It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so based on what we know.”

Context of prior incidents

This is the latest security incident involving Trump, who survived two assassination attempts in 2024 during his campaign. The most serious occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, where he was grazed in the upper ear by a gunman who was killed by security. A second attempt followed in September 2024 at his Florida golf club.

The Washington Hilton, site of the dinner, was also the location of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

No further details on the suspect’s identity or motive were immediately available.

With Reuters.

Caption: (L-R) White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, First lady Melania Trump, and US President Donald Trump participate in the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, DC, USA, 25 April 2026. EPA/Yuri Gripas / POOL