Chaos broke out in Washington, D.C. on Saturday night after a suspected gunman opened fire at the venue of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The situation forced security teams to rush President Donald Trump and other senior officials out of the building.
The incident happened around the Washington Hilton, where guests had gathered for the high-profile event.
Security officers later detained the suspect after shots were heard close to the main screening area.
Witnesses described sudden panic after they heard multiple gunshots, estimated between five and eight.
Many attendees dropped to the floor or hid under tables as security personnel moved in rapidly.
The United States Secret Service locked down the venue within minutes. Armed agents secured entry points and began clearing the building while coordinating a large evacuation of guests.
Officials escorted President Trump, the First Lady, the Vice President, and Cabinet members away from the scene. Authorities later confirmed that none of them suffered injuries.
In a statement, Trump praised the response of security forces.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” he said.
He also confirmed the arrest of the suspect and said he initially leaned toward allowing the programme to continue, but left the final decision to security officials.
Organisers eventually cancelled the dinner and later indicated that they would hold it again within 30 days.
At a follow-up briefing, Trump revealed that the attacker carried several weapons. He added that a security officer got hit during the incident but survived because a bulletproof vest absorbed the impact.
He said he initially thought the noise was harmless, while the First Lady immediately recognised the danger and reacted quickly.
Authorities have not yet determined why the attacker carried out the shooting.
Video footage released afterwards showed a man forcing his way through a security checkpoint before armed officers tackled and subdued him.
The response escalated quickly, with the National Guard deployed around the venue to reinforce security. Officials also sealed off surrounding streets.
The shooting adds another security scare to Trump’s political history, which already includes previous assassination attempts during his time in public office.
