United States President Donald Trump was abruptly ushered out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner after gunshots rang out at the Washington Hilton, triggering panic among guests and a swift security response.
The incident unfolded during the high-profile event hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association, forcing Secret Service agents to evacuate Trump and other senior officials from the hall. Authorities later confirmed that a suspect had been taken into custody, while the gunman was reported dead.
According to officials, Trump was moved to a secure location and indicated he was willing to return to the event depending on guidance from security agencies. In a post on Truth Social, he confirmed the situation had been contained, praising law enforcement for their rapid response and suggesting the dinner could proceed, albeit under altered circumstances.
Veteran journalist Wolf Blitzer revealed he was only a few feet away from the shooter when the gunfire began, describing the weapon as “very serious” and the situation as chaotic.
Weijia Jiang, who presided over the event, urged attendees to remain calm, noting that organisers were still assessing the situation and expected the programme to resume shortly.
Several top officials were present at the time, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, all of whom were also evacuated.
Images from the scene showed heavily armed members of the Secret Service’s Counter Assault Team taking positions inside the venue, while law enforcement flooded the area and helicopters hovered overhead.
Reports indicated that Trump was in mid-conversation when the disturbance began, with agents shouting “stay down” as they rushed him out. Other attendees initially ducked for cover but remained inside once the president had been secured.
The disruption marks an extremely rare security breach at the annual dinner, which is typically a light-hearted gathering of political leaders and journalists.
Diplomatic Setback as Trump Cancels Pakistan Trip for Iran Talks
In a separate development, Trump has cancelled a planned visit by US envoys to Pakistan, halting anticipated face-to-face talks with Iranian officials and casting uncertainty over ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The trip was expected to include Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who were scheduled to meet Iranian representatives in Islamabad.
Explaining his decision, Trump said the United States held the upper hand and dismissed the need for prolonged discussions, insisting there would be no more “long flights to talk about nothing.” However, he clarified that the move does not signal an immediate escalation in tensions.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already arrived in Pakistan under tight security, where he engaged in overnight talks with senior officials, including Army Chief Asim Munir.
Although Iranian authorities maintained that the visit focused on bilateral relations rather than nuclear negotiations, Pakistan reiterated its role in facilitating dialogue between both sides in pursuit of regional stability.
The cancellation introduces fresh uncertainty into already fragile diplomatic efforts, even as political tensions in Washington continue to mount over the administration’s broader strategy toward Iran.
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