UPDATE — WATCH: Trump Speaks To Press Following Shooting Incident at White House Correspondents Dinner
Update: Trump posted images of the shooter in custody to Truth Social.
Original story below…
Shots rang out at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington DC Saturday, causing attendees to flee and Secret Service agents to rush President Donald Trump off stage.
Footage showed agents surrounding Trump as he was sitting at a table on stage with other people after shots were heard.
🚨BREAKING: CHAOS AT WHCA DINNER – POTUS EVACUATED@POTUS and @FLOTUS were suddenly evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner less than 30 minutes after arriving.
— LindellTV (@RealLindellTV) April 26, 2026
Early reports mentioned possible shots fired, but that remains unconfirmed.
Attendees describe Secret… pic.twitter.com/q0hoByDv2P
🚨 BREAKING UPDATE: President Trump has been SAFELY EVACUATED from the White House Correspondents Dinner, per sources
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 26, 2026
You can hear shots ring out in this video
A shooter opened fire in the LOBBY — the shooter is DEAD
This is absolutely INSANE
LEFTIST VIOLENCE MUST END! pic.twitter.com/GB1eUXN8kx
Police are telling bystanders to stand back at the hotel where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is being held after shots were fired.pic.twitter.com/T3ADwjem79
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 26, 2026
Police were seen running through the Washington Hilton lobby following the shooting.
The scene from the red carpet at the #WHCD moments after multiple shots fired on the other side of the doors to the ballroom. pic.twitter.com/oDpopfwxSg
— Kevin Walling (@KevinPWalling) April 26, 2026
BREAKING: Police seen running through the Washington Hilton where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is being held after reports of shots fired. pic.twitter.com/sWtLsAzBjK
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 26, 2026
After the incident, a man informed people that “Everybody’s good,” and, “It is now a crime scene.”
“Secret Service has the person in custody. Everything’s OK, one shooter that we know of,” he said.
Breaking: Reports of shots fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner pic.twitter.com/iR4vyeQYrX
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 26, 2026
CNN reported the shooter was killed by Secret Service agents.
JUST IN: White House Correspondents Dinner shooter is dead, according to CNN.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 26, 2026
“Kaitlan Collins confirms a shooter confirmed DEAD at White House correspondents dinner,” reported @ScottJenningsKY.
President Trump and his team are reportedly safe. https://t.co/7w4ys4AHK9 pic.twitter.com/BMCMpGrNsO
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooter was shot dead by Secret Service agents in the lobby of the Washington Hilton after opening fire.
— AF Post (@AFpost) April 26, 2026
The President was evacuated and is safe.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/TIqkj9vUKR
Fox News correspondent John Roberts reported the shooter tried to charge a Secret Service member near the front door.
BREAKING: "The shooter charged the magnetometer closest to the front door… and took a shot at a Secret Service member at the ballroom."@seanhannity describes what he's been told directly from top White House officials in the wake of shots fired at the White House… pic.twitter.com/C2bNPV25up
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 26, 2026
Via the Daily Mail: “A Secret Service agent was shot but he was wearing a protective vest a source familiar with the matter told The Daily Mail.”
Video purported to show the shooter on the ground as Secret Service agents surrounded him.
WHCA President Weijia Jiang (@weijia): "Law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises consistent with protocol…nobody was hurt. He and the First Lady, the Cabinet, everybody is safe…we will reschedule this event in the next 30 days." pic.twitter.com/6akfEyBeLE
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 26, 2026
After he was rushed out, President Trump announced on Truth Social that the shooter was “apprehended” and that he recommended the show go on.
Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP
White House Correspondents’ Association Chair Weijia Jiang took the podium and said the program would resume.
Weijia Jiang informs the WHCD audience the program will resume pic.twitter.com/b6l64H5uvT
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 26, 2026
Moments later, she returned to the podium saying the Secret Service had asked everyone to leave the premises consistent with protocol.
“The president will be having a press briefing at the White House in 30 minutes,” she added.
WHCA President Weijia Jiang (@weijia): "Law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises consistent with protocol…nobody was hurt. He and the First Lady, the Cabinet, everybody is safe…we will reschedule this event in the next 30 days." pic.twitter.com/6akfEyBeLE
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 26, 2026
Interestingly, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in an interview before the event said Trump was “ready to rumble,” and that there “would be some shots fired.”
🚨 JUST NOW: Karoline Leavitt calls on everyone to watch tonight because Donald Trump will bring the heat and there will be “shots fired”
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) April 25, 2026
LET’S FREAKING GO 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GMkccJ7qvw
This is a developing story…
