Donald Trump commended journalists for what he described as “responsible” coverage following a shooting scare that disrupted the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., and announced plans to reschedule the event within 30 days.

Speaking shortly after the incident, Trump said the evening, held at the Washington Hilton, was not only about the press but also symbolised the broader principle of free speech enshrined in the US Constitution. He added that the dinner would be held again soon, promising a “bigger and better” gathering.

“I just wanna thank everybody that was involved. I also wanna thank the press, the media, You've been very responsible in your coverage,” Trump said, in remarks that marked a rare moment of appreciation for journalists, with whom his administration has often had a strained relationship.

The event was abruptly disrupted when suspected gunshots were reported in the hotel lobby, triggering panic among attendees. According to eyewitness accounts, guests, including reporters and officials, took cover under tables or lay on the ground for several minutes as security personnel responded. The president and other senior officials were swiftly evacuated from the venue.

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Despite the chaos, journalists on site quickly began reporting developments in real time, sharing updates across platforms as the situation unfolded.

Trump also addressed Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, praising her handling of the event and assuring her that the dinner would be rescheduled soon.

The president used the moment to call for unity across political divides, noting that attendees from across the political spectrum had gathered peacefully before the incident. He urged Americans to resolve differences without violence, emphasising the importance of national cohesion during tense moments.

"But in light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our difference peacefully. We have to we have to resolve our differences. I will say, you had Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Conservatives, Liberals, and Progressives. Those words are interchangeable perhaps, but maybe they're not. But yet everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd, there was a record-setting group of people. And there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together. I watched, I watched and I was very, very impressed by that," he said.

With ANI inputs