Gunfire erupted late Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, prompting a rapid Secret Service response that left President Donald Trump and other senior figures unharmed. The incident occurred shortly after the event began, when a lone suspect rushed a Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel lobby. Agents tackled the man, shots were fired, and one Secret Service agent was taken to hospital with injuries. The suspect was not shot but was also transported to hospital in custody.
Authorities identified the arrested man as a 31-year-old from California. Police said he was carrying a shotgun, a handgun and several knives, and they believe he acted alone. Federal prosecutors announced he faces counts including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers with a dangerous weapon; he is to be arraigned in federal court on Monday. News reports say his LinkedIn profile lists a master’s degree, work as a tutor, and hobbyist video-game development; campaign finance records show a $25 donation in 2024 to Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.
Inside the ballroom, where about 2,300 guests were seated and Trump was attending the dinner for the first time as president, the Secret Service sprang into action. Agents hustled Trump and first lady Melania from the stage, formed protective buffers around Cabinet members, and directed guests to hide under tables as heavily armed counter-assault teams moved through the room. Footage and eyewitness accounts described agents pointing rifles into the crowd and escorting senior officials out. Trump later said he had wanted to continue the dinner but was told by the Secret Service to leave. He thanked law enforcement for their swift action and described the episode as “rather traumatic” during a White House news conference.
The Secret Service deputy director said the attacker was stopped at first contact and praised the agency’s layered security posture. Security measures at the event included closing the hotel to the public hours before the dinner, ticketed entry, metal detectors, a security buffer around the president, armored plates under the president’s table and agents positioned near the stage. Despite those measures, some attendees criticized security as lax; officials countered that the rapid containment prevented a larger tragedy.
The FBI and other agencies are investigating. FBI Director said witness interviews were underway. CBS News reported the suspect told law enforcement he was targeting Trump administration officials, though it was not immediately clear whether the president himself was a stated target.
World leaders expressed shock and relief that no one was killed. French President Emmanuel Macron called the violence unacceptable; EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and others condemned political violence and extended well-wishes to the president and first lady. The shooting also prompted security discussions ahead of an imminent state visit by King Charles III to the US.
The episode revived memories of past attacks on political figures, including a 2024 rally shooting that injured Trump and other earlier breaches where would-be assailants were stopped by security. Officials emphasized the ongoing risk of political violence in the United States and underscored the need for continued vigilance.
In the hours after the incident, Trump posted on his platform that the shooter had been arrested and praised law enforcement. Acting Justice Department officials said the investigation was ongoing and that charges would be filed promptly. The White House Correspondents’ Association gala, which this year lacked a comedian and marked the president’s first in-person attendance as sitting president, was abruptly interrupted; Trump said the event would be held again within 30 days.