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
President Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents Dinner, which was disrupted by reports of an armed shooter. Attendees were evacuated for safety, and Trump later held a press conference at the White House. The incident highlighted the importance of freedom of speech and unity among attendees.
- President Trump attended the White House Correspondents Dinner after avoiding it since taking office
- Reports of an armed shooter caused pandemonium, leading to evacuation of attendees including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
- Mentalist Oz Pearlman performed a trick guessing the name of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's unborn baby
- Trump held a press conference at the White House instead of continuing his speech after the incident
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.
The chaos erupted around 8:35 pm local time when a series of loud bangs were heard coming from just outside the ballroom. Video footage captured Trump diving for the floor alongside Weijia Jiang and Melania Trump turning to look out across the ballroom, appearing to say 'oh my God' as Leavitt asked 'what's happened?' Secret Service agents rushed to the stage with rifles drawn, shouting instructions to attendees who ducked under tables. A 31-year-old suspect was apprehended after firing shots in a vestibule near the ballroom entrance.
The alleged gunman was wrestled to the floor and held by security personnel, later appearing face down on the carpeted floor with his hands cuffed behind him. He had been staying at the hotel for several days prior to the incident and had sent writings to family members implying he did not expect to survive his attack. One officer, believed to be a Secret Service agent, was shot in the chest but protected by his ballistics vest.
Less than an hour after the chaos began, Trump posted updates on Truth Social announcing that law enforcement had apprehended the shooter and stating that he recommended continuing with the dinner but deferred to safety protocols. He later held a hastily called press conference at the White House where he praised Secret Service agents for their quick action and expressed warm words towards the press, complimenting Weijia Jiang on her handling of the evening.
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