President Donald Trump was rapidly escorted from the Washington Hilton after shots rang out at the press event on Saturday night
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/White-House-Correspondents-dinner-042526-9-ff83c5c468464955b795d96e21daa6eb.jpg "Law enforcement officers surround Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and his wife, actress Cheryl Hines following reports of a shooting during the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, DC, US on Saturday, April 25, 2026")
Credit: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty
The White House Correspondents' Dinner erupted in chaos on Saturday night, April 25, as eyewitnesses reported hearing shots and smelling gunpowder amid a reported attack by a gunman.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were rapidly escorted from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., as were other top members of the administration, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt, FBI Director Kash Patel, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and others.
In a statement addressing the situation, Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that there was a "shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner." Guglielmi said that the "condition of those involved is not yet known" and confirmed that one individual is in custody.
Below, see some of the most dramatic shots from the chaotic event.
01 of 09
Before the Chaos
Credit: Nathan Howard/Getty
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump sat on stage before the shots rang out.
02 of 09
Escorted Out
Credit: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, were escorted out of the Washington Hilton amid the chaos.
03 of 09
Armed and Ready
Credit: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty
Agents draw their weapons after shots rang out.
04 of 09
Rapid Response
Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
U.S. Secret Service agents respond onstage after shots were heard.
05 of 09
Crowded Chaos
Credit: Danny KEMP and AFPTV teams / AFP via Getty
Agents climbed over tables to respond after shots were fired.
06 of 09
The Millers Evacuate
Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, were escorted out by security.
07 of 09
Guests Flee
Credit: Ulysse BELLIER / AFP via Getty
Guests evacuated the Washington Hilton on foot amid the chaos.
08 of 09
Agents on the Street
Credit: Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty
FBI agents respond to the shooting.
09 of 09
Addressing the Press
Credit: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty
President Donald Trump, along with FBI Director Kash Patel (L) and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin (R) address the press following the incident.
