The United States Secret Service evacuated President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, along with other members of the US Cabinet, from the room where the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) was being held, on Saturday, April 26, 2026, after hearing what sounded like gunshots, according to an EFE journalist who was at the event.
The president is fine. According to the Fox network, Trump asked to return to the room and resume dinner.
One person detained, Trump says
Trump then wrote a message on the Truth social network in which he assured that a “shooter” had been arrested.
“The shooter has been arrested, and I have recommended that ‘the show goes on,’ but we will be guided entirely by the authorities,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, just minutes after being escorted out of a ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel.
“A memorable night in Washington DC The Secret Service and law enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” Trump added in his message.
The apparent explosions occurred outside the ballroom where the dinner was being held, which was dominated by a table on a stage where the president and first lady were seated, who were evacuated shortly after the apparent shots were heard.
Other members of the Government who had attended the gala held at the Hilton Hotel in Washington were also evacuated, such as the Secretaries of State, Marco Rubio, of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, and of War, Pete Hegseth.
Television images show that the apparent shots, between three and four, occurred at a time when the mentalist hired to entertain the evening, Oz Pearlman, was speaking with the president and the first lady, who exclaimed “What happened?!” upon hearing the commotion.
Immediately, all the occupants of the presidential table were evacuated to a safe place and then more members of the Secret Service were deployed in the ballroom carrying assault rifles and asked everyone in the room to take cover.
After a few minutes, the Secret Service began to ask attendees to leave the room because this is now “the scene of a crime,” according to the EFE journalist present at the dinner.
However, many attendees at the event remained in the venue after it was announced that Trump would return and retake the table.
