Donald Trump thanked the media for a "responsible coverage" of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting incident, that took place at Washington’s
Hilton hotel on Saturday night, April 25. Addressing the press from the White House, hours after the incident, the US President said, “I want to thank the press, the media, you have been very responsible in your coverage, I will say." Speaking about the dinner event, Trump said that it was an event dedicated to the freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties, with members of the press and in a certain way it did." "The room was totally unified, it was a very beautiful thing to see," the President said. While taking questions from the reporters, Trump lauded Weija Jiang, who is a senior White House correspondent for CBS News and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. He said, “Madam Chairman, I just want to say you did a fantastic job, what a beautiful evening and we are going to reschedule." "You have done a fantastic job," the President reiterated.
What Happened At White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton
Donald Trump and other top officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel.
The incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton.
Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.
Several guests at the dinner, including leaders across the political spectrum, journalists and other invitees, ducked under the table, apparently as a reflex reaction.
Trump Announces Dinner Will Be Rescheduled
Putting up a brave face, President Trump later announced on Truth Social that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table,” a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.
Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He (the attacker) hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him,” Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.
Trump said one security officer was shot at but saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Several protestors had lined up on the road outside the hotel, raising slogans against the Trump administration and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A CNN reporter who was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton said he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed the venue.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, has been arrested.
With inputs from PTI
