A gunman was subdued after firing shots at the White House Correspondents’ dinner in Washington D.C. on Friday night, April 25, 2026.
The incident occurred in the lobby of the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being held. The gunman reportedly fired shots in an apparent attempt to get to Donald Trump, who was on stage with his family when Secret Service rushed in, instructed him to get down, and evacuated him from the event.
Secret Service and on-site law enforcement intervened and the shooter was apprehended. In a statement attributed to President Donald J. Trump, he said: "Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. 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. 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. President DONALD J. TRUMP".
Trump later returned to the dinner following the evacuation.
Dana White, UFC CEO and an advocate for Trump and his conservative platform, has a history of attending political events connected to Trump, including the 2016 and 2024 Republican National Conventions.
