WASHINGTON — President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner on Saturday evening after gunshots were fired, and a person was taken into custody.
A Times reporter attending the dinner sheltered in a restroom after the incident. He said he heard about four or five gunshots around 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. He said a security guard told him that the person may have had a gun and that they were shot. It was unclear whether the person was dead or wounded.
According to multiple on-scene witnesses, an unknown man dashed toward the dining area and was met with gun fire. One hotel security guard said she observed the individual with a firearm. Several other witnesses said they were unsure if the individual was in possession of a weapon.
Video taken by the reporter showed a person on the ground surrounded by law enforcement officers as people were being ordered to evacuate the area.
Video taken by CSPAN showed President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump sitting on stage when federal agents and Secret Service officers take them away, while other officers stand guard with assault rifles. Someone in the room can be heard yelling, “Get down.”
White House officials said the president and first lady are safe.
Trump said on Truth Social that he planned to hold a news conference and would reschedule the dinner within 30 days.
“The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” he said in his post. “We will be speaking to you in a half an hour.”
Outside the ballroom, secret service, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and other federal officers were stationed in the hallways leading into the room.
Guests scattered, many making phone calls. Most attendees appeared calm, though a few appeared shaken. Some huddled near the bathrooms, talking. Anti-war protesters remained on the street outside the hotel where the event was taking place.
A presidential motorcade was spotted outside the Washington Hilton hotel at about 8:45 p.m., though Trump appeared to be at the hotel.
At about the same time, an ambulance arrived on scene as about 100 event attendees were escorted out.
The White House Correspondents’ dinner is an annual event organized by the White House Correspondents’ Assn. (WHCA), a group of journalists who cover the White House. The dinner features a speech by the sitting president, journalists and hosts, often comedians.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Times staff writers Andrea Castillo and Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.