Trump safely evacuated from gala in Washington, after shots fired by a potential assassin

The image spread rapidly across newsrooms and social networks. In it, Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania, is seen sitting in a tuxedo at the head table of the White House correspondents’ dinner, where he had just arrived shortly after 8:30 p.m.

He calmly listens to a guest addressing the presidential couple when suddenly several muffled shots ring out. Unlike Melania, whose face shows concern, the president at first appears not to react.

However, quickly, “secret service agents rush to the scene to secure the president, while urging guests to take cover under their tables,” Politico reports, with one of their journalists present at the dinner.

Safely evacuated from the ballroom, where the event took place, Donald Trump and his wife are escorted back to the White House around 9:45 p.m., leaving behind hundreds of guests – including most American and international political journalists based in Washington – in confusion and uncertainty.

“Wolf lone”

“The guests wandered, waiting to receive further information on the incident,” testifies The Washington Post. “Some are ordered to evacuate, then an announcement is made that the program will resume. In the half-empty room, people call or send messages to reassure loved ones about their safety. Some drink wine to calm their nerves.”

It wasn’t until Donald Trump’s press conference two hours later at the White House that it was learned that a man, described by the president as a “lone wolf” and a “deranged person,” armed with multiple weapons, had fired several times in the hotel foyer, prompting a response from security agents – one of whom was injured in the gunfire exchange.

The presumed shooter was “arrested on the scene and placed in detention,” as detailed by The Wall Street Journal. Jeanine Pirro, federal prosecutor of Washington, announced that the suspect will appear in federal court on Monday and faces charges of using a firearm during a violent act and assaulting a federal agent with a dangerous weapon. His motives remained unknown Saturday night, and investigators were unable to confirm if his target was Donald Trump.

“This is not the first time in recent years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin seeking to kill,” Trump told the press, who has been the target of two assassination attempts in recent years.

Trump “unfazed”

Before addressing the press, the president posted two photos of the presumed shooter on his Truth Social network, showing him lying on the ground with his hands behind his back and shirtless, as well as a video of him running in the hotel lobby and challenging security.

“On this video, agents draw their weapons and appear to begin shooting,” described The New York Times, which identified the suspect as a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California.

Many government officials were also present at the White House correspondents’ dinner – which Donald Trump attended for the first time as president – including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Minister Pete Hegseth. All were calmly evacuated.

During his press conference, Donald Trump appeared calm and assured that he was not “fazed” by the events, aware of leading “a dangerous life,” reports USA Today. “I think I’m managing the situation as well as possible,” he told journalists. “I’m not in despair. I really take things as they come. I do it for the country,” he said.