President Donald Trump was rushed out of the White House correspondents’ dinner Saturday night after several loud bangs were heard, and Secret Service officers with guns drawn sprinted through the aisles to reach the president.
According to the White House press pool, a group of reporters who travel with the president, a member of the Secret Service shouted, “Shots fired.†There was no sign the president was hit.
Guests were about five minutes into the dinner hour when a commotion could be heard toward the back of the ballroom. Security officials then sprinted through the aisles toward the stage where the president was seated. Gasps were heard and then hundreds of attendees dropped under their seats at their tables.
Security officials with weapons drawn emerged on the dais as the president and the first lady, Melania Trump, were quickly escorted out.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Salwan Georges/The New York Times)
SALWAN GEORGES
Secret Service agents with drawn weapons at the Washington Hilton where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is held, in Washington on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Salwan Georges/The New York Times)
SALWAN GEORGES
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Salwan Georges/The New York Times)
SALWAN GEORGES
President Donald Trump attends the annual White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Salwan Georges/The New York Times)
SALWAN GEORGES
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Salwan Georges/The New York Times)
SALWAN GEORGES
FILE — President Donald Trump speaks to reporters outside the White House as he departs Washington, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, en route to Las Vegas. President Trump has boycotted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in previous years.. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
HAIYUN JIANG
