The atmosphere at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner dramatically shifted when shots were fired, prompting an immediate evacuation of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

What is usually a celebrated evening in Washington, D.C., quickly descended into turmoil at roughly 8:15 p.m. Shots echoed through the lobby of the Washington Hilton, sending shockwaves through the event.

In a swift response, the President and First Lady were escorted to safety, with members of the cabinet following closely behind.

The prestigious gathering had just started when a suspect, wielding a substantial weapon, burst into the hotel lobby, causing panic among attendees.

Thousands of guests found themselves scrambling for cover beneath tables and chairs as Secret Service agents urgently directed everyone in the ballroom to take evasive action.

Audible gasps echoed through the ballroom as guests realized something was happening. Hundreds of journalists got on phones to call in information. 

A Secret Service agent was shot but he was wearing a protective vest a source familiar with the matter told The Daily Mail.

No injuries have been reported and the president has since confirmed the shooter has been ‘apprehended.’

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both rushed off stage from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton

Donald Trump is escorted out as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington

The President was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech 

He and the First Lady have since departed the hotel and returned to the White House, where he will hold a press conference shortly. 

The President was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech. 

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests dining on burrata salad ducked under tables by the hundreds. 

‘Out of the way, sir!’ someone yelled. Others yelled to duck. 

‘The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. One individual is in custody,’ a White House official told The Daily Mail in a statement. 

The condition of those involved is not yet known and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.’ 

Trump confirmed the gunman was in custody in a post to Truth Social.

‘Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.’

Security officials evacuate U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, as a shooter opens fire

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson

About an hour later, however, WHCA President Weijia Jiang said that the Secret Service had asked everyone to leave. 

‘We will do this again,’ said Jiang. Shortly afterward, staff began breaking down table settings and the presidential lectern. 

Daily Mail reporters in attendance reported hearing three to four shots and hearing Secret Service agents yelling to get down. 

Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. 

The banquet hall — where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump’s speech — was immediately evacuated. 

Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not re-enter. Security outside was also extremely tight.

It was not immediately clear what happened. A law enforcement official confirmed there was a shooter but no further details were immediately available. 

Those in attendance included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Anchor Wolf Blitzer later reported that the police said the gunman had a ‘major weapon.’ 

Law enforcement respond during an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner

Trump alongside WHCA President Weijia Jiang, did not appear to notice the gunshots before they were evacuated, as the President was speaking to the host, mentalist Oz Pearlman.  

Shouts of ‘God bless America’ were heard throughout the ballroom as the entire dais was led out of the room, with many of the other guests still inside. 

Protesters had been spotted both outside and inside the Washington Hilton related to the Iran War and Israel’s war on Hamas ahead of the dinner.  

Jiang announced about a half hour later that the program was set to resume in ‘not much longer.’ 

Trump arrived Saturday night to an event where the leaders of a nation at war mingled with celebrities, journalists and even a puppet — Triumph the Insult Comic Dog — in a dinner that typically generates debate about whether the relationship between journalists and their sources should include socializing together and putting aside sometimes adversarial relationships.

Trump and wife Melania popped up on stage after leaving the White House Saturday night, as the rest of the star studded attendees walked the red carpet and took their seats with JD Vance and his wife Usha, as well as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.  

The President has had a rocky relationship with the annual shindig, held by the White House Correspondents’ Association, but was pleased to be named an honoree for this year’s event.

Past presidents who have attended have generally spoken about the importance of free speech and the First Amendment, adding in some light roasts about individual journalists.

Trump arrived Saturday night to an event where the leaders of a nation at war mingled with celebrities and journalists

According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire

The Republican president did not attend during his first term or the first year of his second. 

He came as a guest in 2011, sitting in the audience as President Barack Obama, a Democrat, made some jokes about the New York real estate developer. 

Trump also attended as a private citizen in 2015.

Past dinners have also featured comedians who poke at presidents. This year, the group opted to hire mentalist Oz Pearlman as the featured entertainment. 

In Niles, Illinois, a suspect faces charges after being caught on camera allegedly stealing goose eggs earlier this week.

Officials from the Niles Police Department announced on Saturday that the case has been transferred to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police for further action.

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Thanks to tips from the community, authorities were able to identify and charge a suspect in connection with the theft, according to the police.

As of now, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police has not disclosed the name of the individual charged in this incident.

The Niles police released footage showing a woman removing goose eggs from a nest and placing them in her pockets. The incident occurred around 4:18 p.m. on Monday, with the nest located beside a building near the Golf Mill Mall.

Canada geese are protected in Illinois, by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Without a permit, it’s illegal kill them, or disturb their nests, eggs or young.

Animal control believes the goose eggs were just a couple weeks away from hatching.

Niles police had set up the camera to monitor a pair of adult Canada geese and their eggs that were nested there for the last couple of weeks.

“Two hours later, I get footage of a woman taking the eggs instead of the adult geese coming back,” Niles police Animal Control Officer Allison Cole said. “Mixed reactions, I’m shocked. A part of me is still trying to think, ‘OK, maybe she’s affiliated with an organization or wildlife rehabilitation that was also aware of this nest and monitoring them.’”

Local wildlife organizations confirmed it was not any of their employees.

“Sometimes it’s just a matter of educating; some people truly don’t know they’re not supposed to do this. And just educating, maybe getting some fines is what’s warranted,” Cole said.

If you ever come across any nests with eggs in them, do not touch them. And if you believe they’re abandoned, then you should call the Department of Natural Resources or local wildlife organizations.

On Saturday, residents of Deir al-Balah in Gaza are set to cast their votes for new local officials, marking the first such election in two decades. Experts caution that this political change might enable Hamas to solidify its grip on power, as the group remains defiant against disarmament conditions tied to ceasefire agreements.

Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, expressed to Fox News Digital that the wrong timing and precarious conditions in the Palestinian Authority often result in electoral wins for Hamas. He pointed out that this has historically led to heightened tensions.

Schanzer referred to the 2006 push for elections by the Bush administration, which culminated in Hamas’s victory and subsequently triggered a prolonged confrontation and a civil war.

“It’s crucial to exercise caution with elections in regions like Gaza,” Schanzer emphasized, “where Hamas wields considerable influence and terrorist organizations are still regarded by some as legitimate entities.”

The ongoing posthumous identification of Gazan journalists and media professionals as members of terrorist organizations underscores the challenging task of distinguishing between militant affiliates and civilians.

Election campaign banners showing candidates for the upcoming municipal elections hang on a building in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip April 21, 2026. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)

Four parties are contesting the election in Deir al-Balah. To be eligible, candidates were asked to accept the Palestine Liberation Organization and the terms of agreements it has previously made, including recognition of the State of Israel and endorsement of a two-state solution, according to reporting by the Center for Peace Communications.

However, many are concerned that one party, Deir al-Balah Unites Us, is affiliated with Hamas. Two of its candidates have been pictured with Hamas officials or police officers.

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, posted on X that “holding elections in Gaza at this time is extremely reckless and irresponsible,” noting that “Gazans are being arrested, jailed, tortured, shot, and killed daily for social media posts and anything they say that’s perceived as being critical of Hamas. 

“These elections should be halted and prevented from proceeding, for they are meddling with the transition process that the Board of Peace, [National Council for the Administration of Gaza], and the international community have planned for Gaza, with Hamas’s disarmament and relinquishment of power being the first necessary step.”

Disarmament of Hamas, a key demand within the second phase of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire agreement, has yet to be completed. Reports indicate that Hamas has increased its hold in Gaza as of March, continuing to tax locals, building education system and placing police throughout the territory it holds.

Hamas terrorists stand guard in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Feb. 22, 2025, during the handover of hostages as part of a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner swap deal with Israel. (Hatem Khaled/Reuters)

Schanzer said Hamas is unlikely to hand over its arms. If it were to do so, he said that they “will try to make distinctions between weapons,” possibly offering to give up heavy weapons like RPGs while maintaining a large arsenal of automatic weapons.

Hamas appears to have made a partial disarmament offer. The New York Times reported April 19 that two Hamas officials said they would hand over thousands of weapons from their police force and other security institutions. The officials “did not provide a clear answer” when asked if weapons from Hamas’ so-called military wing would be included.

President Donald Trump holds up a signed agreement during a world leaders summit focused on ending the Gaza war in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Oct. 13. (Suzanne Plunkett/Getty Images)

Schanzer pushed back on claims that Hamas’ political and military wings operate separately. 

“That is a fiction. The idea that they are separate in any way or that there is a firewall between them is asinine.” He said that this is “a distinction that has been made up by the West in order to be able to have political relations with Hamas, or to justify elections. It’s a mistake to buy into that fiction.”

Schanzer said weakening Iran could be key to minimizing Hamas’ influence. 

“The psychological impact of their top patron being defeated on the battlefield, I can’t overstate how important that event could be,” he said. “It would be a gut punch to Hamas.”

An election campaign starts in the city of Deir al-Balah, Gaza on April 12, 2026, as part of the local elections scheduled for April 25. (Mohammed Eslayeh/Anadolu via Getty Images)

With Israel controlling about 53% of the Gaza Strip and Hamas the remaining 47%, Schanzer said, “We could continue to see the erosion of Hamas control” amid the “slow and steady process of Israel winning on the ground.” 

He said patience, though, is necessary, adding that “the enemies of the United States and Israel and the West have a very different timeline. They want to wait out everybody because they know that we’d like to move on.”

The Trump administration did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions about whether a partial disarmament would satisfy its ceasefire terms or if it would take action to stall elections until there’s more stability in Gaza

King Charles is set to embark on a State Visit to Washington, following extensive preparatory efforts by aides from Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, and the Diplomatic Service to ensure the visit runs smoothly.

The unpredictable nature of President Trump adds a unique element to the visit, which will see the King and Queen Camilla welcomed on Monday for a private tea at the White House. The agenda includes a garden party and a ceremonial military review, culminating in King Charles delivering a historic joint address to Congress on Tuesday.

In the lead-up to the visit, intense coordination has been ongoing between the Palace, the Cabinet Office, and the British Embassy in Washington. One royal source described the efforts as implementing ‘mitigations’ to prevent any potentially embarrassing incidents from the increasingly unpredictable President.

This visit takes place against a backdrop of escalating tensions between President Trump and Sir Keir Starmer, particularly over issues such as the UK’s stance on Iran, the handling of the Chagos Islands, and the brief tenure of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the US.

Adding to the diplomatic pressure, the US Government recently hinted at possibly withdrawing its support for Britain’s claim over the Falkland Islands, in response to the UK’s tepid support for the conflict.

Barely 24 hours before the Falklands threat was revealed, officials had held one of the final planning meetings for the trip in which a royal representative had asked a British diplomat in America about how to avoid ‘unpleasant surprises’. 

After the diplomat had offered honeyed reassurances, the royal representative is understood to have said: ‘Don’t make promises you can’t keep’.

The ‘mitigations’ have included talks about restricting the amount of public time between the King and Trump, with an emphasis on private interaction away from the cameras. Discussions have also settled on delivering so-called ‘easy wins’, in which Charles raises issues unlikely to prove controversial in the Oval Office.

King Charles, pictured with Princess Catherine of Wales and US President Donald Trump during the latter’s State Visit to the UK last September, has had his reciprocal trip subject to ‘Trump-proofed’ by officials

Mr Trump pictured at the end of his engagements with King Charles, before he travelled to Chequers to meet with Sir Keir Starmer 

This is expected to include sentiments on passing on the world to the next generation in better shape: although given the King’s strong views on the environment, and Trump’s scepticism about climate change and related matters, even that is not without its risks. 

A source said: ‘The trip was too far advanced by the time the Iran crisis blew up to stop it. So we are having to Trump-proof it as much as that is possible, to make it as much about Charles and Camilla and as little about the President as is viable in the circumstances.’

However, a royal source told the MoS that it was ‘not right’ to say that the preparations had been framed by a feeling of ‘trepidation’.

The source said: ‘If state visits were easy, there wouldn’t be much point in doing them. The Trump visit here last year was a success, and helped to reset, rebuild and renew relations, and we hope that this outward visit will do the same.

‘It is obviously not without complexity, but we have done our best to mitigate the risks and maximise the opportunities, in the hope it will deliver similarly positive results for the UK.’

The visit will also include a bilateral meeting between King Charles and the President, during which Queen Camilla and the First Lady are expected to hold their own separate meeting. 

After the King becomes only the second British monarch to address a joint session of Congress – Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1991 – the couple will return to the White House for a state dinner.

Before departing from Washington, the royal couple will lay a wreath and flowers to honour fallen service members, before moving to New York City to meet the families of victims of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. 

While in New York, the King will also visit a community organisation which teaches children and young people affected by food insecurity ‘sustainable urban farming’. He is expected to highlight environmental and social causes while there.

Queen Camilla will attend an event celebrating the countries’ shared love of literature, including A.A Milne’s Winnie‑the‑Pooh stories, which celebrate their 100th anniversary this year.

The tour ends in Virginia, where the King and Queen will watch performances by Appalachian cultural groups and take part in a community party celebrating America’s 250th birthday. They will then depart for the British overseas territory of Bermuda.

President Trump told the BBC last week he hoped the visit could repair relations with the UK, and described Charles as ‘a fantastic man’. He added: ‘I know him well, I’ve known him for years. He’s a brave man, and he’s a great man.’

Chaos unfolded at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night when gunshots were fired, prompting a dramatic evacuation of President Trump and First Lady Melania less than half an hour after their arrival.

The annual star-studded event at the Washington Hilton was thrown into disarray as footage captured the sound of at least five gunshots echoing from the lobby. Over 2,000 attendees, including journalists and Trump administration officials, sought refuge under tables amid the commotion.

President Trump, First Lady Melania, Vice President JD Vance, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt were swiftly escorted from the ballroom by Secret Service agents, ensuring their safety as the situation unfolded.

Subsequently, the remaining members of Trump’s cabinet were also evacuated from the venue as a precautionary measure.

According to sources, the assailant was neutralized by security personnel after the incident, which occurred near the metal detectors positioned outside the ballroom.

The Secret Service has since locked down the hotel.

The event, hosted by the White House Correspondents Association, is expected to continue.