Trump Issues Statement After Shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner; Suspect Apprehended

A shooting outside the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner sent attendees scrambling for safety Saturday night at the Washington Hilton.

President Trump, 79, was among those evacuated from the ballroom after gunfire erupted in the lobby on April 25. Following the incident, the President addressed the situation through Truth Social, commending the swift response from law enforcement and Secret Service personnel.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely," Trump wrote in his statement. "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."

The suspect is now in custody. Event organizers announced that proceedings would resume shortly following the incident.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer, who was present at the dinner, described the harrowing moments as shots rang out nearby. "I start hearing gunshots in the hall right near me, and the next thing I knew, a police officer threw me to the ground and was on top of me," Blitzer recounted. "And then they grabbed me, the police officers, and they take me back into the men's room, where it was safe, and there were about 15 other men who are stuck in there, and they won't let them out, and that's what happened."

The veteran journalist added more details about his proximity to the shooter. "All the sudden a guy with a weapon, it was a very, very serious weapon, it starts shooting, and I happened to be a few feet away from him as he was shooting," he said.