Key Takeaways
- • President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night (April 26, 2026) following a security incident involving gunfire; no injuries were reported.
- • A shooter opened fire at the Washington Hilton banquet hall where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities, and national leaders were gathered; attendees reported hearing five to eight shots fired.
- • Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among senior government officials evacuated from the event.
- • Secret Service and law enforcement responded immediately, with the banquet hall evacuated by the hundreds as guests sheltered under tables; National Guard personnel subsequently took positions inside the building.
- • No further details regarding the shooter's identity, motive, or any casualties were immediately available at the time of reporting.
Summary
President Donald Trump and other top U.S. government officials were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening following an active security threat. According to the Associated Press, a shooter opened fire in the banquet hall where the event was underway, prompting immediate evacuation protocols. Trump was reported uninjured, and there were no confirmed casualties at the time of initial reporting.
The incident occurred as President Trump was preparing to deliver remarks at the dinner, which is traditionally attended by prominent journalists, celebrities, and national leaders. Eyewitnesses reported hearing between five and eight shots fired within the banquet hall. The scene rapidly descended into emergency response mode, with Secret Service and law enforcement officials swarming the venue as hundreds of guests sheltered under tables. Security personnel directed attendees to evacuate, with orders to vacate the premises but not re-enter.
Among those evacuated were Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Members of the National Guard took up defensive positions within the building as the evacuation proceeded, while external security was substantially reinforced around the venue. A law enforcement official confirmed that a shooter was involved in the incident, though no additional details regarding the shooter's identity, location within the building, or motive were disclosed in immediate reporting.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual event that has historically been a venue for press-president interaction and remarks on media relations, was disrupted by the security incident. As of the time of reporting, the full scope of the incident remained unclear, with authorities continuing their investigation. No updates regarding injuries, property damage, or further incident details were available.
The incident occurred as President Trump was preparing to deliver remarks at the dinner, which is traditionally attended by prominent journalists, celebrities, and national leaders. Eyewitnesses reported hearing between five and eight shots fired within the banquet hall. The scene rapidly descended into emergency response mode, with Secret Service and law enforcement officials swarming the venue as hundreds of guests sheltered under tables. Security personnel directed attendees to evacuate, with orders to vacate the premises but not re-enter.
Among those evacuated were Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Members of the National Guard took up defensive positions within the building as the evacuation proceeded, while external security was substantially reinforced around the venue. A law enforcement official confirmed that a shooter was involved in the incident, though no additional details regarding the shooter's identity, location within the building, or motive were disclosed in immediate reporting.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual event that has historically been a venue for press-president interaction and remarks on media relations, was disrupted by the security incident. As of the time of reporting, the full scope of the incident remained unclear, with authorities continuing their investigation. No updates regarding injuries, property damage, or further incident details were available.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.