A gunman armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives charged a U.S. Secret Service checkpoint in the lobby of the Washington Hilton on Saturday (April 25), forcing the evacuation of President Donald Trump, the first lady, Vice President JD Vance, and numerous Cabinet members from the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. One Secret Service officer was shot in the chest but was protected by a ballistic vest. The suspect is in custody, and the dinner has been canceled and will be rescheduled within 30 days.

The shooting took place at approximately 8:36 p.m., according to NBC News, when the suspect ran through a Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel's main lobby. Secret Service agents intercepted the man before he could reach the ballroom, where dinner service had already begun.

Jeffery Carroll, interim chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department, said at a news conference that law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect, though the suspect was not struck by gunfire. Carroll described the man as a "lone" gunman and said there "does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public."

The Secret Service officer who was shot was also transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Speaking from the White House briefing room, still dressed in his tuxedo, President Trump said he had spoken with the officer personally. "He was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job," Trump said. "I just spoke to the officer and he's doing great — he's in great shape, he's in very high spirits."

U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi issued a statement confirming the agency is investigating the shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area. "The president and the first lady are safe along all protectees. One individual is in custody," Guglielmi said.

Inside the ballroom, Secret Service agents rushed the stage and directed high-ranking guests, including Cabinet secretaries and members of Congress, to the ground or out of the room.

President Trump initially thought the noise was a tray falling.

"It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away," he said. "Some people really understood that pretty quickly. Other people didn't."

White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) President Weijia Jiang announced the evacuation from the podium and confirmed the president and first lady were safe, drawing applause from remaining guests. "I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service, because when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it," Jiang said. "Thank God everybody is safe. We will do this again."

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters in the White House briefing room that charges would be filed against the suspect imminently.

United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said that the suspect was being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of a violence, and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

The incident took place at the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 as he exited an event.

President Trump, when asked if he believed he was the target, replied: "I guess." He also said he assumes the attacker was "a lone wolf" and added, "I don't like to let these sick people, these thugs, these horrible, horrible people change the fabric of our lives."

President Trump said he intends to reschedule the dinner within 30 days and promised the next event would be "better" and "safer." "We're not going to let anybody take over our society," he said. "We're not going to cancel things out, because we can't do that."

Mo Egger

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