Inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as shots fired, Trump rushed from the stage
Shots fired. The guests hide for cover. Secret service with weapons drawn. Washington Times correspondent John T. Seward was inside the ballroom when chaos erupted at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
I’m John T. Seward, defense and national security correspondent for The Washington Times. I’m here at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton.
We see most of the main dining room being emptied after dinner is effectively canceled.
Several shots were fired outside the diner moments ago. Guests hid under tables, crouching in the aisles as U.S. Marshals and the Secret Service poured into the room to impeach President Donald Trump along with Vice President Vance and a very healthy portion of the cabinet. This would normally be considered a national security event with all members of the administration and some members of Congress in attendance. But security basically consisted of an invitation from the White House Correspondents’ Association and a single metal detector when you entered the ballroom for dinner.
President Trump has been evacuated. The secret services, weapons in hand, rushed into the room and practically bypassed all the guests, turning towards members of the political class. Mr. Trump was taken off stage along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was seen limping, although President Trump has since said there were no injuries to him or his cabinet.
One of the participants, specifically for the Washington Times, General Chance Saltzman, was there with us. He was also led out of the ballroom along with other administration officials. Less than 20 feet from the tables hosted by The Washington Times, FBI Director Kash Patel was detained by his personal security guards until commissioners secured him an exit as well. And he came out to the other side of the room. There are these doors that you see over my shoulder that are open.
The event has been postponed. President Trump has said he wants to see this event resume within 30 days and wants to attend again. In fact, he initially said he would return to the ballroom after being told it was safe, but that didn’t happen. This is the first White House Correspondents’ Dinner that the President has attended during either of his terms as President.
No instructions were given to the rest of the guests and dignitaries, including senators, US representatives and a number of foreign ambassadors.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we need you to leave the ballroom presence. Leave the ballroom and facilities. Thank you.”
And that is our call to leave.
But essentially, the Secret Service had only created a perimeter around the building, working with the Capitol Police and the US Marshals Service. But, as I said earlier, it was basically just a ticket from the White House Correspondents’ Association, along with a trip through a metal detector to keep the president safe here.
More to follow from the Washington Times national security team as well as the White House team.
Thank you all for your listening and prayers.
