Updated: Trump, First Lady, cabinet members rushed out of White House Correspondents dinner after shots fired

JUST IN: CNN’s Wolf Blitzer says he was just feet away from the White House Correspondents dinner shooter, says he was thrown to the ground by a police officer.

“It was a very, very serious weapon, he starts shooting.”

“I happened to been a few feet away from him as he was… pic.twitter.com/6ajscWy7Q9

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 26, 2026

Secret Service have removed president and first lady from the venue – CBS reports

CBS, BBC’s US-based media partner, says the President and First Lady have both been removed from the dais by the Secret Service.

Following their exit, armed agents from the Counter Assault Team (CAT) were seen standing on stage with long guns aimed toward the back of the room,

CBS reports that shortly afterwards, security rushed another guest toward the front of the room, bounding over tables and empty chairs as the guest were down on the floor.

CAT pushed over the bike rack and hustled the protectee out.

BREAKING: President Trump and First Lady are rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

It is unclear what led up to the evacuation, but attendees of the event were seen on video feed ducking and covering around their tables. pic.twitter.com/GbbXmL223t

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 26, 2026

BREAKING: President Trump and some cabinet members rushed out of White House Correspondents dinner.

There are reports of possible shots fired.

“The president was ushered out of the room on Saturday evening, and attendees are hiding under tables in the ballroom,” the Independent… pic.twitter.com/vIYJn4Opwi

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 26, 2026

President Trump and some cabinet members rushed out of White House Correspondents dinner.

There are reports of possible shots fired.

“The president was ushered out of the room on Saturday evening, and attendees are hiding under tables in the ballroom,” the Independent reported.

The room is on lockdown.

BREAKING: @BretBaier recounts the confusion and panic that followed reports of possible gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. pic.twitter.com/nXl10Nltu6

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 26, 2026

BREAKING: Police seen running through the Washington Hilton where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is being held after reports of shots fired. pic.twitter.com/sWtLsAzBjK

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 26, 2026

Early photos show chaos inside hotel ballroom

Images are starting to emerge from the Washington Hotel showing guests crouching down after shots could be heard.

Security helped some guests evacuate from the building.

Guests duck under the table after shots appeared to ring out

There is widespread confusion inside the ballroom at the White House Correspondents Dinner here tonight after a security incident interrupted the program a few minutes ago.

Dinner attendees ducked under tables as what sounded like gunshots rang out somewhere nearby the ballroom where the dinner is taking place at the Washington Hilton.

President Donald Trump was quickly escorted out of the room by secret service agents. Soon after, senior administration officials including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth were also escorted out by their security security details.

After a chaotic few moments dinner guests emerged from beneath dinner tables and started taking stock of the situation.

This is the first security breach at the dinner in recent memory, if ever. It was also the first time Trump attended the event as sitting president.

Security whisked some guests away from the venue