US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner after a shooting broke out at a security checkpoint, officials confirmed.
The incident happened during an event at the Washington Hilton Hotel, which was attended by about 2,600 guests. According to available information, the attacker fired a shotgun at the Secret Service agent, but was quickly overpowered and arrested.
President Trump later stated that the stricken agent was wearing a bulletproof vest and was not seriously injured.
Authorities say the suspect acted alone and had several types of weapons with him, including a shotgun, a pistol and knives.
Security cameras recorded the moment when the suspect passes through the control zone, after which the agents reacted and drew their weapons.
At the moment of the shooting, panic arose among those present, who hid under the tables while the security officers evacuated the top officials.
Due to the incident, the dinner was interrupted and cancelled, and the investigation is ongoing. According to the president, federal agents searched the suspect’s home in California.
This event comes after two previous assassination attempts on Trump during the 2024 election campaign.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is traditionally held at the Washington Hilton Hotel, which has previously been the site of security incidents, including the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981, writes Klix.
