POLITICSApril 26, 2026

Trump evacuated after security incident at White House Correspondents Dinner; no injuries reported

President Donald Trump was rushed from the stage at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday evening after reports of an active shooter prompted an immediate evacuation of the Washington Hilton banquet hall.

The Secret Service swarmed the venue as hundreds of journalists, celebrities, and government officials ducked beneath tables. Witnesses described hearing between five and eight shots fired from an unknown location. Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among those evacuated from the premises.

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Law enforcement officials confirmed that a shooter had opened fire, though the full scope of the incident remained unclear as of Saturday night. National Guard members took positions inside the building while security personnel sealed the perimeter. Attendees were allowed to leave but not reenter.

No injuries were immediately reported. The Secret Service said in a brief statement that the president was "safe and unharmed" and had been transported to a secure location. The White House did not immediately issue a further comment.

The annual dinner, a decades-old tradition bringing together the press corps and the administration, has occasionally been the site of protests but never a violent incident of this nature. The event was suspended for the remainder of the evening.

What This Means For You: The security breach at one of Washington's most high-profile annual events raises serious questions about venue security protocols for gatherings that bring together the nation's top leadership. Expect heightened security measures at future public political events, and possible changes to how the Correspondents' Dinner is structured going forward.

By Core News Daily Staff

Originally sourced from New York Daily News