The 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner concluded early Saturday night when gunshots were heard in the lobby outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel, prompting President Trump and his family to evacuate, and many of the journalists who attended reported on the event in real time from their phones.
Attendees quickly turned to X to describe the scene, like Tony Morrison, who wrote“NOW: Reports of shots fired at WHCD and that the Secret Service has neutralized an assailant in the lobby of the Washington Hilton. My clients and I are safe and left the event 10 minutes before the incident. My colleagues and friends locked in the ballroom.”
Political expert Kevin Walling wrote in X“Red carpet scene at #WHCD moments after multiple gunshots on the other side of the ballroom doors,” along with video.
Journalist Leonardo Feldman, Newsweek reporter in the White House, wrote“Something I noticed before even entering the #WHCADinner was that security was only outside the ballroom, not outside the building. So the entrance to the building didn’t have a security machine, just guards, you just went through screening before the ballroom.”
Kerry Kennedy, lawyer and activist who is part of the Kennedy family, wrote on facebook that, “A loud burst of gunfire, then ‘Drop, duck, duck!’ I fell to the floor at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in the middle of a conversation with Rep. Jamie Raskin, who heroically protected me, whispering, “You’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay,” while my Boston Globe anchor lay on the floor, furiously taking notes, and thousands of reporters, photographers and editors took cover under tables and under chairs. Then the doors burst open and dozens of Secret Service agents ran into the room, many of them with their hands in holsters. They rushed to find the cabinet secretaries and brought them to safety. Then the security started shouting, “Come on, come on, come on,” demanding that we leave. It was terrifying. But I am still grateful to the brave Secret Service, my friends at the Boston Globe and, most especially, Rep. Jamie Raskin.”
After the incident, Trump led to Truth Socialwriting: “Law enforcement has requested that we leave the facility, in accordance with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will hold a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, as well as the Vice President and all members of the Cabinet, are in perfect condition. We will speak with you in half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will reschedule it within 30 days.”
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