President Donald Trump was evacuated Saturday night from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a security incident at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
According to CBS News, the evacuation happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. ET after loud bangs were heard near the ballroom, sending attendees scrambling for cover.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed off the stage by United States Secret Service agents.
Footage from inside the dinner reportedly showed several armed agents moving quickly through the crowd of tables, while other security personnel with rifles appeared on stage after Trump was removed.
A video described by CBS News showed chaos in the ballroom moments after the sounds were heard.
CBS senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs reportedly captured cellphone footage showing White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, crouched beside a table while a federal agent shielded them before escorting them out.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, were also reportedly nearby.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his wife were later seen leaving the ballroom.
CBS reported that Secret Service officers with weapons drawn lined up across the podium area, yelling “clear” after multiple shots were heard.
Another update said law enforcement fired shots inside the ballroom area near the hallway adjacent to the CBS News table.
Photos from the event reportedly showed attendees hiding under tables while armed agents escorted guests out.
Other officials said to be in attendance included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
As of the latest update, authorities had not publicly identified a suspect or released details about injuries.
The exact cause of the incident also remained unclear.
What is clear is that the response was immediate and serious.
When the Secret Service removes a sitting president from a public event within seconds, it means they treated the threat as credible until proven otherwise.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is one of Washington’s highest-profile annual gatherings, bringing together journalists, administration officials, lawmakers, celebrities, and security teams in one room.
That concentration of senior officials means any disturbance triggers an aggressive protective response.
More official details are expected once investigators determine whether the loud bangs came from gunfire, a confrontation, or another security threat.
For now, Trump was safely removed, multiple officials were evacuated, and the dinner was thrown into chaos.
