Panic and confusion swept through Washington, D.C., on Saturday night after gunfire broke out during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, forcing President Donald Trump and top members of his administration to be rushed to safety.
The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile event was being held. According to reports, Secret Service agents moved quickly to remove the president from the stage as soon as shots were heard. Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet officials were also evacuated amid the chaos, as law enforcement worked to secure the area.
Despite the alarming situation, early updates indicated that President Trump was not injured. Sources familiar with the situation told reporters that he remained safe, and administration officials confirmed that other كبار officials in attendance were unharmed. The White House press pool noted that, at one point after the shooting, the president was still inside the hotel, suggesting that authorities had contained the immediate threat.
The suspect responsible for the gunfire was quickly apprehended by security personnel. Witnesses described a tense and frightening scene as attendees scrambled for safety. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who was present at the event, said he was only a few feet away from the gunman when the shooting began. He later recounted seeing the suspect on the ground shortly after the incident, surrounded by law enforcement.
The dinner, which typically brings together journalists, politicians, and public figures, included numerous senior officials from the Trump administration. Among those reported to be in attendance were Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Communications Director Steven Cheung, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was also present. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed safe and had left the venue following the incident.
Political leaders reacted swiftly to the news. Representative Nancy Mace expressed concern and said she was praying for the safety of everyone at the event. She also noted reports that the suspect had been detained and that the situation was being closely monitored.
In a separate development the same day, the Department of Justice announced a significant change to federal execution policies. According to a memo obtained by Fox News, officials have directed the Bureau of Prisons to expand the methods used to carry out capital punishment. The updated policy reinstates lethal injection procedures used during Trump’s earlier administration and introduces additional options, including the use of firing squads.
The Justice Department stated that the changes are intended to ensure that death sentences are carried out once all legal appeals have been exhausted. Officials described the move as part of a broader effort to reinforce the federal government’s commitment to enforcing capital punishment under existing law.
The dramatic events at the dinner, combined with the policy announcement, marked a night of both immediate crisis and significant legal developments in the nation’s capital.
