Guests at the White House Correspondents' Dinner ducked under tables when security agents shouted that shots had been fired, and one person was taken into custody at the Washington Hilton, officials said. President Donald Trump and the First Lady were escorted from the stage and out of the ballroom by Secret Service agents, while Vice‑President JD Vance and several Cabinet members attending the event were also moved to safety.

Immediate disruption at the Washington Hilton Guests were ordered down when agents yelled that shots had been fired. Attendees ducked under tables and behind chairs in the Washington Hilton ballroom as heavily armed protective officers ran up the aisles. The incident began in a public area just outside the ballroom, near a lobby corridor one floor up, and several people reported hearing loud bangs that sounded like gunfire. Broadcast cameras captured the rapid response and the confusion as organisers and security staff worked to clear the ballroom. Evacuation of senior officials and high-profile guests President Donald Trump and the First Lady were escorted off the stage and out of the room by Secret Service agents. The president later said he initially thought the noise was a falling tray. Vice‑President JD Vance and a number of Cabinet members who were attending the dinner were also moved out; an administration official said Cabinet members present were safe. The White House Correspondents’ Association president, Weijia Jiang, who was on stage, asked the president what he was thinking as he was led away; Mr Trump replied such moments are always shocking. Custody, identification and on-site security actions The Secret Service posted that one person was in custody after the incident. Multiple people at the hotel described agents swarming the ballroom and the adjacent corridors; television coverage showed security teams consolidating control of the site. The venue was placed under lockdown and the perimeter around the hotel was immediately hardened. Local and federal investigators were on scene, authorities transported at least one person from the building, and ambulances were stationed outside the hotel. Who was in the room and the event's commercial footprint The White House Correspondents’ Dinner traditionally brings together senior politicians, administration officials, journalists and public figures. On Saturday night those attendees included the president, the vice‑president, members of the Cabinet and prominent media personalities. Television crews interrupted programming to cover the evacuation and many guests were filmed outside the hotel after leaving the ballroom. Organisers and security staff coordinated an immediate exit for people who were seated throughout the large room. Financial and business implications An incident of this kind disrupts multiple revenue streams tied to a single evening. Immediate impacts included: - Hospitality operations in the ballroom halted and the hotel placed into lockdown. - Broadcasters interrupted scheduled programming and the event's visibility for sponsors and advertisers was affected.

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Mr Trump said he initially thought the noise was a falling tray as he and the First Lady were escorted from the room.

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