WHCD to be rescheduled in next 30 days after shots fired, Trumps evacuated
President Trump thanked law enforcement on Saturday after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner and he, the first lady and Cabinet members were evacuated.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” Trump wrote on Truth Social .
“The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”
Weija Jang of CBS, the White House Correspondents Association president, later announced that the program will take place at another date. She had initially indicated it could resume that night.
“He insists that we will reschedule this event in the next 30 days, and that he wanted to do it tonight,” Jang said, referring to Trump. The president “has to follow security protocol” she added.
Jang added that, according to Trump, everyone was safe and that he intends to hold a press conference at the White House.
Three or four loud bangs were heard, according to reporters from The Hill who were attending the dinner. People immediately dove under their tables to take cover, before the president, first lady and members of the Cabinet were rushed out of the Washington Hilton, where the annual dinner has been held for decades.
U.S. Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement posted to social media that the agency was investigating “a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner.”
“The president and the first lady are safe along [with] all attendees,” Guglielmi said. “One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”
Shots rang out while guests were in the middle of the first course before quickly dropping to the ground. Several attendees reached under their tables.
At one point, what sounded like a few people began to chant “USA.”
Guests grabbed trays to give themselves cover, while women removed their shoes, Hill reporters at the event said.
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