White House Correspondents' Dinner Evacuated After Shots Fired at Washington Hilton

Security protocols swung into action at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening (April 25) when gunfire rang out during the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner, forcing an emergency evacuation of the ballroom.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were among those removed from the event as Secret Service and armed security personnel responded to the incident. The shots originated in the hotel's lobby, sending guests scrambling for cover beneath tables as security personnel moved into position.

Deadline reporter Ted Johnson, who was present at the dinner, described hearing what he believed to be four gunshots emanating from the hallway adjacent to the ballroom near his seating area.

The gunfire occurred as attendees were partway through the meal, specifically during the salad course, according to coverage monitored through CSPAN and reported by Variety.

A number of senior government officials were in attendance at the event, including Vice President JD Vance, White House deputy chief of policy Stephen Miller, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk. All were evacuated along with other guests.

Details surrounding the shooter remain unclear, with conflicting accounts regarding whether the individual was apprehended or deceased. Additional information is expected to emerge as the situation develops.