Gunfire Scare Forces Donald Trump To Evacuate White House Correspondents’ Dinner

A security incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner led to rapid evacuation by Secret Service personnel. Attendees, including high‑profile figures, were redirected to exits while officials investigate. No injuries were reported, and cabinet members were escorted to safety during the incident.

US President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and several senior American leaders were rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night after an unspecified security threat, as Secret Service agents secured the venue and early reports confirmed no injuries.

Witness accounts said agents moved quickly through the packed ballroom while guests at the media and politics event stayed low. Many attendees were guided towards exits, while officials began treating the situation as a serious security incident under active investigation.

White House Correspondents' Dinner security incident disrupts annual gala

During the disturbance, several US Secret Service agents were heard shouting "shots fired" inside the dinner, according to pool reports. A short time later, an agent reported over the radio that a suspected shooter had been taken into custody, easing immediate fears among those present.

Secret Service agents and other security personnel streamed into the hall as hundreds of guests ducked under tables. One person shouted "Out of the way, sir!" while others told people to get down, the Associated Press reported, as waiters ran towards the front of the room.

White House Correspondents' Dinner security incident under official review

Before being escorted away by security, Melania Trump briefly appeared to react to movement in the crowd and looked worried, according to a CSPAN live feed cited by Reuters. The annual dinner, attended by politicians, journalists and celebrities, was halted as the evacuation unfolded.

Vice President JD Vance and members of Donald Trump's Cabinet left the venue under guard. A source told CNN that Trump is safe, while an administration official said Cabinet members are unharmed. Officials said the security scare at the White House Correspondents' Dinner remains under investigation in the report published by Zafar Zaidi at 06:21 IST on April 26, 2026.