Trump evacuated from White House Correspondents' Dinner due to 'shooting incident'

Following what was referred to by the Secret Service as a "shooting incident," President Donald Trump was taken away from the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

After the incident, one person was detained, but the "status of those involved remains unknown," as stated in a social media update by the Secret Service.

Shortly after Trump took the stage for the first time as US president at the White House Correspondents' Dinner around 8:30pm, there was yelling in front of the stage, recounted Tim Röhn, Senior Editor of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, who witnessed the event. Business Insider is associated with this network.

According to Röhn, a scene of disorder followed, with individuals fleeing, guests diving to the floor, and seeking cover under tables. Armed officers emerged from backstage, aiming their weapons at attendees.

"Quite an eventful night in D.C. The Secret Service and law enforcement executed a remarkable job," Trump shared in a Truth Social post regarding the incident.

"They responded swiftly and valiantly. The suspect has been captured, and I've suggested we "LET THE SHOW CONTINUE," but will defer entirely to the judgment of the law enforcement. Their decision will be forthcoming. No matter the choice, the night will significantly differ from what was planned, and we might just have to try again another time."

CBS senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang addressed the guests briefly after the incident to announce that the event would proceed as planned.

Before the event commenced, Trump's arrival time and the duration of his presence were unknown.

The entire WHCD dinner typically spans approximately three hours, and it wasn't certain if Trump would remain at the Hilton any longer than it would take to deliver his speech.

Trump, who was known to have participated as a private individual and media figure in 2011 and 2015, notably opted out of attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner during his initial term as president.