U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were rushed to safety on Saturday evening after gunshots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

At the moment the shots rang out, the ballroom was filled with such a din that it was difficult to immediately grasp the situation, but the atmosphere shifted as Secret Service agents entered the room to swiftly escort the President, First Lady, and cabinet members to safety.

Reporters on the scene reported hearing gunshots around 9:40 p.m. and that approximately five shots were fired before Secret Service agents rushed to the stage.

President Trump was scheduled to speak at the dinner around 9 p.m. that evening. This was his first time attending the dinner as president, according to Epoch Times.

President Trump and other key government officials were evacuated after gunshots were heard at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. on the 25th (local time). [Yonhap News]President Trump wrote on Truth Social at 9:17 p.m.: "It was a very chaotic evening in Washington D.C. The Secret Service and law enforcement showed incredible bravery and responded with speed and courage. The shooter has been apprehended and I suggested to them, 'Let's get the show back on the road,' but all decisions are exclusively up to law enforcement. They will be making their decisions shortly. Whatever the decision, tonight's event will be very different from what was originally planned, and we will have to re-do the event, regrettably."

Connecticut Avenue, where the Hilton Hotel is located, was closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Law enforcement advised President Trump not to return to the dinner, and the President announced he would hold a press conference at the White House shortly.

According to reporter Gavin J Quinton, although unconfirmed, the shooter appears to have been killed by agents at the scene.

A hotel security guard stated that he confronted the suspect who was in possession of a firearm. Several eyewitnesses reported that a man rushed into the dining area and was shot, as relayed by Quinton.

Other video and photos showed the suspect appeared to be injured and bleeding but not in life-threatening condition. Reporters on the scene described the shooter as a white male with long hair.

The Hilton Hotel, where the incident occurred, is the same location where former President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. in 1981.

Those reportedly present at the dinner during the incident included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, FBI Director Kathy Patel, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, House Republican Leader Steve Scalise, Federal Prosecutor Janine Pirro, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and White House Spokesperson Caroline Levitt.

The shooter has been identified as Cole Allen, 31, from Torrance, California. Allen is currently in custody. Contrary to earlier reports, Allen appears to be Black.

According to reporter Nick Sator, he was selected as "Teacher of the Month" in December 2024.

Conservative influencer Laura Loomer stated on X that the shooter, Cole Thomas Allen, is a registered Democrat.

U.S. NNP=Chief Editor Sung Ku Hong / Special Dispatch NNP info@newsandpost.com