Gunfire erupted during the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington on Saturday night around 8:30 PM local time. S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several members of the cabinet. The incident triggered immediate chaos within the ballroom, while president Donald Trump was safely evacuated from the venue by security personnel and escaped the incident unharmed.
Eyewitness Account by Indian Journalist Reena Bhardwaj
ANI journalist Reena Bhardwaj, who was attending the dinner, provided a first-hand account of the incident through a video recorded at the scene. She described the initial moments of the shooting, noting that the sound was initially mistaken for something else. "Just a few minutes ago, chaos broke out in the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Washington, while what I saw with my own eyes was first a loud noise. I thought maybe it was the sound of clattering dishes," she stated.
Panic Inside the Ballroom and Security Response
The situation escalated rapidly as attendees realized the gravity of the noise, while bhardwaj observed servers dropping their trays and running to find cover. She further detailed the scene, saying, "Everyone took shelter under the entire table. " The presence of armed security indicated a high-level threat response as they secured the perimeter of the ballroom.
Evacuation of President Trump and Cabinet Members
Following the gunfire, President Donald Trump was immediately moved to safety. Subsequently, members of his cabinet were evacuated one by one, while those confirmed to be safely removed from the premises include Scott Bessent, Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, and Witkoff. While there were announcements that the program might resume shortly, Bhardwaj noted that no official information had been received from the Association regarding the next steps.
The area remains under heavy security as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting at the high-profile gathering.