Trump returns to White House after shooting at Correspondents Dinner
April 25 (UPI) — President Donald Trump returned to the White House after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C.
There was a shooting incident near the main security screening area at the Washington Hilton, with one person in custody as law enforcement assesses the situation, Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the U.S. Secret Service, said in a statement.
All protectees, Guglielmi said, are safe, including the president, first lady and members of the Cabinet who were at the dinner.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he wanted to return to the dinner and for the “SHOW TO GO ON,” but security insisted that they leave the hotel and return to the White House.
“Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do immediately,” Trump posted about an hour after the incident.
“The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” Trump posted. “I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”
An announcement in the ballroom mirrored Trump’s announcement about rescheduling the dinner for next month.
The FBI confirmed that the suspect is in custody in a statement.
The suspect has been taken to the hospital, as has a Secret Service agent who was injured, The Washington Post reported.
Trump also said he would give an update from the press briefing room at the White House later this evening.
Dinner was being served at the annual gathering of the Washington press organization when shots could be heard from the ballroom before Trump was evacuated by security, according to video of the event.
President Trump, Melania Trump and other members of the administration on the dais and in the ballroom were evacuated within minutes of shots being heard over C-SPAN and other networks broadcasts.
As the officials were cleared from the room, Secret Service agents swarmed it and ordered other guests to stay in their seats.
Most of the other guests remained in the ballroom after organizers made an announcement that the show would continue shortly.
There was also speculation whether Trump would return to the dinner after the announcement the show would continue and the Presidential Seal was not immediately removed from the podium on the dais.
C-SPAN reported that waiters started to clear the salad portion of dinner as guests started to open wine while waiting for more information about the situation before the announcement that the dinner is going to be rescheduled.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
