'It's a crime scene': How Trump's correspondent dinner attack unfolded
The attack that interrupted the White House Correspondents' Dinner left scenes of panic, confusion, and immediate reaction inside the Washington Hilton hotel. Witnesses describe how the shots unleashed chaos among more than 2,000 attendees, while the United States Secret Service evacuated President Donald Trump and his team in a matter of seconds.
TL;DR
- Gunshots disrupted the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, causing panic among more than 2,000 guests.
- The Secret Service rapidly evacuated President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other government officials.
- A 31-year-old man armed with a hunting rifle, pistol, and knives attempted to access the event but was subdued by police without casualties.
- Attendees described scenes of chaos, with people diving under tables as Secret Service agents secured the president.
- President Trump, after being secured, decided to continue the event from a safe room but was eventually convinced to leave, later holding an unusual press conference at the White House.
- Trump called for unity and an end to violence, proposing to reschedule the dinner.
- The incident occurred in the same hotel where Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.