U.S. President Donald Trump was hurried off stage on Saturday evening after gunfire erupted at a high-profile media gala in Washington, in what authorities are treating as a failed assassination attempt.
Secret Service agents rushed the president to safety as shots rang out during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner held at the Washington Hilton.
Guests, including top government officials and the First Lady, were thrown into panic as security teams responded to the unfolding chaos.
Eyewitnesses said armed agents quickly moved in as the suspect breached a security checkpoint outside the ballroom.
The attacker, reportedly carrying multiple weapons, was eventually subdued at the scene after an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service,” Trump said during a brief press conference at the White House following the incident.
He added that early assessments suggest the attacker may have acted alone.
“They seem to think he was a lone wolf, and I feel that too,” he said, while also sharing footage of the suspect running past security before being apprehended.
Guests at the event were seen taking cover under tables as tactical units secured the venue.
Officers later confirmed that one Secret Service member was struck but protected by his vest and taken to hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
Trump also noted that the venue had weaknesses in its security setup, saying it was “not a particularly secure” location.
He explained that he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for something as harmless as a dropped tray before realizing the severity of the situation.
Washington police chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed that the suspect, believed to have entered the venue as a guest, was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and knives.
He said: “Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the individual. A U.S. Secret Service uniformed division officer was struck in his vest.
”He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He appears to be in good spirits.”
Authorities also revealed that the suspect would face charges related to firearm possession and assault, with court proceedings expected to begin on Monday.
Investigators have since traced possible links to a residence in California, where FBI agents were seen carrying out searches.
Reports suggested the suspect may be a 31-year-old mechanical engineer, though officials have not formally confirmed his identity.
During the incident, security personnel evacuated cabinet members first, while confusion spread among guests attending the annual event, often described as Washington’s most glamorous political gathering.
This is not the first time Trump has been the target of an assassination attempt.
In 2024, a shooting incident in Butler, Pennsylvania left one spectator dead and the president slightly injured.
Another attempted attack was later foiled at a Florida golf course.
The Washington Hilton, where the gala took place, also carries historical significance as the site where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
Despite repeated security concerns, Trump has indicated plans to reschedule the event within a month.
