Chaotic scenes broke out at the Washington Hilton after gunfire erupted on a floor above the basement ballroom where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was being held, triggering an immediate security response.
US President Donald Trump later recounted that he was curious to see what was happening as Secret Service agents quickly escorted him out of the venue on Saturday night following the shooting.
When asked if he felt concerned after hearing the gunshots, Trump said he was “not worried,” adding, “I understand life. We live in a crazy world.”
He also noted that his desire to observe the situation firsthand may have slowed the Secret Service’s efforts to move him to safety quickly.
“I wanted to see what was happening – I didn’t make it easy for them,” Trump said. “I was trying to understand what was going on, but it soon became clear this was something serious, not just typical noise from a ballroom.”
He added that he was surrounded by capable security personnel but may have slowed their response. “I kept saying, ‘Wait a minute, wait a minute,’” he recalled, noting that Secret Service agents repeatedly urged him to get down as they moved him off the stage. “I started walking, and they told me, ‘Please get down on the floor.’ So I did, and the First Lady got down as well.”
Authorities said a man from California has been accused of forcing his way into the gala attended by the president, in what officials described as a shocking attack at a Washington hotel.
According to administration officials, the suspect appeared to be targeting Trump and other senior figures present at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner – marking what could be the third attempt on the president’s life in the past two years.
Following a brief exchange of gunfire with security agents, the suspect was apprehended at the scene.
Trump later shared images showing the suspect handcuffed and lying face down on the hotel floor.
Speaking at a late-night press conference at the White House, Trump said he initially mistook the sound for a dropped tray before realising it was gunfire.
He also expressed hope that the annual gala would be rescheduled within a month, while describing the hotel venue as “not particularly secure,” as concerns grew over the adequacy of security arrangements.