President Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents Dinner for the first time since taking office, marking a rare moment of unity between his administration and the press. The event, held at the Washington Hilton Hotel, brought together more than 2,500 journalists, guests, CEOs, celebrities, ambassadors, and cabinet members including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Key Takeaways
The White House Correspondents Dinner was disrupted by a security incident involving a shooter with a gun. Over 2,500 journalists and guests attended, marking President Trump's first attendance as president. The event featured high-ranking officials including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
- Security incident disrupts White House Correspondents Dinner
- President Donald Trump attends the dinner for the first time as president
- Over 2,500 journalists and guests attend the event
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is due to give birth in days
The night took a chaotic turn when armed agents rushed toward the dais after reports of a shooter with a gun. Attendees were ushered behind the stage for safety. CBS News reported that Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents Association, was on stage with Trump when the incident occurred.
The dinner featured mentalist Oz Pearlman performing a trick to guess the name of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's unborn baby. Leavitt is due to give birth in days and held her last press gaggle before starting maternity leave, according to UPI and Fox News. The White House plans to have various administration officials handle official press briefings during her absence.
The incident led to a delay in the program, with Trump deciding to hold a press conference at the White House instead of continuing his speech. He addressed the situation, acknowledging how it shaped his view of his relationship with the press. The event highlighted both the fragility and importance of freedom of speech, as attendees united in response to the crisis.
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