President Trump, first lady Melania and a slew of top lawmakers and White House officials had to be dramatically evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday night after a gunman opened fire outside the ballroom.
The shooting erupted just after 8:30 p.m., about 20 minutes after Trump and Melania made their grand entrance into the Washington Hilton ballroom.
The gunman has been detained — and possibly shot and killed, according to law enforcement sources and shocking photos which show the shirtless suspect lying face down on the pavement.
He was intercepted at the metal detectors outside the Washington Hilton ballroom, where Trump and countless VIPS were set to toast the Washington press corps.
The president is safe and there were no injuries reported.
Organizers of the star-studded “nerd prom” said the program originally said that they wanted continue as planned; but then announced that the event was canceled by 9:45 p.m.
It will be rescheduled within 30 days, the president posted to Truth Social.
“Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately,” Trump posted after the shooting, noting a press briefing will be held at the White House.
“The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”
In an earlier post, Trump praised law enforcement and Secret Service for doing a “fantastic job.”
Harrowing footage from the annual glitz gala showed at least five shots ringing out from the lobby, as more than 2,000 guests — including journalists and Trump officials — scrambled under tables for cover.
Trump, Melania, Vice President JD Vance, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt were among those at the dais who were rushed out of the ballroom by Secret Service agents before the rest of the president’s cabinet were evacuated.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who was attending the event when the gunfire rang out, said he heard about six shots in a tight corridor just outside the ballroom moments after dinner service had begun.
“All of a sudden, I start hearing gunshots in the hall right near me,” he told CNN. “And the next thing I knew, a police officer threw me to the ground and was on top of me.”
Blitzer said he had just stepped out and was heading up the stairs toward the lobby when the shooting broke out.
“It looked to me that the gunman who was firing these rounds was inside the security dinner,” he said.
“He somehow managed to get inside the metal detectors.”
Authorities quickly moved to secure the scene, physically restraining people in the vicinity and rushing them into nearby rooms for cover as the Secret Service locked down the hotel.
A White House Correspondents’ Dinner volunteer said the suspected gunman appeared to assemble a “long” weapon in a lightly monitored area near the terrace-level entrance before opening fire and rushing toward the ballroom.
The witness, Helen Mabus, a volunteer working the event who said she is from Harrisburg, Pa., described a “makeshift room” near the entrance where bar carts were being stored and where “there was no security” at the time.
“He was in that room […] he grabbed it out of a bag or something,” Mabus said, adding that the weapon “was long” and “didn’t look like a typical gun.”
“He put it together and […] ran towards the stairs to go down to the ballroom. It just seem like he was shooting all over the place,” she said, estimating she heard “at least 10 shots.”
Malbus said the gunfire triggered immediate panic, with people “screaming and running” while Secret Service and other armed personnel rushed toward the danger.
Erika Kirk — the widow of slain conservative icon Charlie Kirk — was visibly shaken and in tears as she was abruptly rushed out of the ballroom, an eyewitness told The Post.
“I just want to go home. I just want to go home,” she reportedly said.
The eyewitness also reported seeing a disoriented and “delirious” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being carried out by members of his security details.
Officials said the shooting took place near the main magnetometer screening area at the Washington Hilton, where guests pass through security before entering the event.
“One individual is in custody,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement, adding that “the condition of those involved is not yet known.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident alongside the Metropolitan Police Department, with teams “on the ground assessing the situation,” Guglielmi said.
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It is the first time Trump has attended the gala since 2011 — marking his first appearance as president.
Before the event, pro-Palestine protesters lined the street outside the Washington Hilton, waving flags and holding signs that read “Media lies, Gaza dies” and “no war for Israel.”
Some also wore caricature masks depicting War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
One protester reportedly stormed the red carpet as guests arrived — only to be swiftly hauled away into custody.
