(OSV News) — President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several cabinet members were whisked out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner April 25, following gunshots at the hotel where the annual event was taking place.
According to The Associated Press, witnesses at the Washington Hilton heard about 5-8 gunshots. Law enforcement told AP a gunman opened fire outside the ballroom where the Trumps and dinner guests were seated. One officer was hit in a bullet-resistant vest before the gunman was subdued and is expected to be OK.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed to BBC News that the president, first lady and those under the agency’s protection at the dinner had been safely evacuated.
Attendees — largely hundreds of journalists who cover the White House — took cover under tables, with some providing moment-by-moment updates to their various outlets amid the confusion.
After being evacuated, Trump posted on his platform Truth Social that “the shooter has been apprehended,” and that he had “recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON.'”
He commended the Secret Service and law enforcement for acting “quickly and bravely,” and noted he would defer to them on a decision to resume the event.
Shortly afterwards, Trump posted that law enforcement had requested “we leave the premises, consistent with protocol.”
Tom Bateman, a State Department correspondent for BBC News, reported that one Secret Service agent described the ballroom as a “crime scene” while ordering attendees to vacate it.
Trump, in his second Truth Social post, stated the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days, and announced a press briefing at the White House following the evacuation.
The White House Correspondents’ Association was founded in 1914, with its first dinner hosted in 1921. The association, which counts close to 900 members from almost 300 outlets, works to ensure robust journalistic coverage of the White House.
Shortly after the incident, Bishop David J. Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio, released a statement deploring the attack and calling for prayer.
“The United States is built on freedom and respect for all. There is no room for violence that endangers the life of any human being,” said Bishop Bonnar.
“Moreover,” he said, “the issue of gun violence must be addressed. Violence is never the answer.”
Bishop Bonnar added, “We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down. We pray for peace in moments of disagreement and discord.”
“As we celebrate our 250th birthday may we live as a nation under God with liberty and justice for all,” said Bishop Bonnar, who concluded with a prayer of petition: “For the healing of divisions in our country, that we might always strive to be one nation, under God, and that hatred and violence will be cast out from every heart in our land and throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord.”
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Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.
