A shooting took place outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner held at the Washington Hilton hotel on April 25, 2026, forcing the evacuation of attendees and postponement of the event [1].
A suspect armed with multiple weapons attempted to breach security and fired shots at Secret Service personnel before being shot and apprehended [1]. President Trump and other officials were hastily evacuated from the scene during the incident [1].
Lawmakers and political figures present described confusion and shock following the shooting. Rep. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) called it "a horrible, horrible moment for our country to see somebody want to attack or disrupt the event" [1]. Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.) said it was "insane … that this is happening at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Security is supposed to be top notch" [1]. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) added, "As a member who lives in Parkland and went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS I am glad everyone is okay." Former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) called the incident "shocking" [1].
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) blamed Democrats for the shooting [1]. Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Jack urged a review of security protocols, saying, "Somebody should look into the security protocols that were adopted here. Hopefully when we do come back within 30 days, it's a much more safe and much more secure event that enables all of us to celebrate this night" [1].
President Trump praised law enforcement's swift response and insisted the dinner be rescheduled within 30 days [1]. Lawmakers expressed concerns over current security measures and hope for enhanced protections when the event resumes [1].
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is expected to be reconvened no later than late May 2026 as authorities assess and upgrade security protocols [1].