Trump safely evacuated, gunman from California apprehended during White House correspondent’s dinner

President Donald Trump was rushed from the head table at the White House correspondent's dinner on Saturday night after gunshots rang out, prompting a massive evacuation of the nation's top leaders from the annual dinner with journalists. The president said a lone gunman from California was apprehended, and one Secret Service officer was shot in his protective vest.

'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job," the president said in a social post after his evacuation. "They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement."

Trump said the gunman was from California, "He's a sick person, a very sick person," the president said at a White House news conference about two and a half hours after the incident. He described the gunman as a "lone wolf."

Trump posted video on his Truth Social account of the gunman being quickly subdued at a checkpoint near magnetometers. He said he had already talked to the Secret Service officer who was shot at close range and the officer was doing well.

Organizers of the dinner canceled the event after the incident, and Trump said it would be rescheduled in the next month.

Attendees reported loud bangs outside the ballroom that sounded like gunfire just seconds before Trump and other top officials were whisked away. The incident occurred near a security perimeter where magnetometers were screening guests.

Secret Service agents removed Trump quickly from the head table while other security agents rushed to remove other top officials. Officials could be heard yelling "stay down" as the president was secreted away and Secret Service officers in tactical gear and carrying rifles appeared on stage.

The Secret Service confirmed one individual was taken into custody. 

The gunman was not wounded and was carrying a shotgun, a handgun and several knives, officials said.

“The president and the first lady are safe along (with) all protectees,” Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said. “One individual is in custody.”

“The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,” he added.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the gunman would be charged with multiple federal felonies.

A senior government official told Just the News that Trump, First Lady, Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and his wife were all safe after the evacuation. FBI Director Kash Patel, who also was in attendance, was also safe, officials said.

Video footage showed House Speaker Mike Johnson rushing with his security detail out of the hotel.

The episode interrupted Trump's first ever attendance at the journalism dinner as chief executive.

The event occurred at the same hotel where Ronald Reagan was shot in an assassination attempt more than four decades ago,

Longtime CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer was at the checkpoint when the gunfire broke out, saying he saw gunman and heard several loud shots before an officer jumped on top of him to protect him,