Wahington: Chaos erupted at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night as President Donald Trump and several high-ranking administration officials were rushed from the ballroom following reports of gunfire.

While the President is reported to be uninjured, a law enforcement official confirmed that a shooter opened fire during the event at the Washington Hilton. Hundreds of attendees, including celebrities, journalists and government leaders, were forced to take cover under tables as Secret Service agents and security personnel swarmed the subterranean banquet hall.
 

The incident

Witnesses at the scene described hearing between five and eight shots. Amid the panic, commands of “Out of the way, sir!” and shouts to duck for cover echoed through the room. The National Guard has since established a perimeter inside the hotel, allowing guests to exit the premises while barring re-entry.

The evacuation took place just as the programme was underway. Along with the President, the following officials were confirmed in attendance and evacuated were Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A night of tension

The shooting interrupted an evening already marked by high political stakes. This was President Trump’s first time attending the dinner during his second term, an appearance that highlighted the "robust" yet often "complicated" relationship between his administration and the press corps.

Before the disruption, WHCA president Weijia Jiang noted the importance of the event, stating, “The relationship is important. It can be complicated. It can be intense. But it is robust.” The evening was intended to feature mentalist Oz Pearlman as entertainment, a shift from the traditional comedic roasts of years past. Outside the venue, protesters had gathered to demonstrate against the administration’s media policies, with one carrying a sign declaring, “Journalism is dead.”

Authorities have not yet released information regarding the identity or motive of the shooter, nor have any injuries been officially confirmed at this time.

AP