Trump Press Conference and Response to Gunfire at Correspondents Dinner

President Donald Trump addressed the media at the White House approximately one hour after he and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated when gunfire erupted at the White House Correspondents Dinner, hosted at the Washington Hilton.

“That was unexpected,” Trump stated from the White House Briefing Room, commending the quick actions of the Secret Service and law enforcement at what was intended to be “an event dedicated to freedom of speech meant to unify members of both parties with the press.”

He recounted the disorderly scene and acknowledged law enforcement for their rapid response.

Describing the event attendees as a “record-setting crowd,” he highlighted the response to the attack as a rare moment of political unity.

“In a certain way, it did unify them,” Trump commented. “I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons. He was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service, and they acted very quickly.”

The president announced he had instructed the release of the incident footage on Truth Social and other platforms for “transparency and clarity,” ensuring the video would demonstrate “how swiftly Secret Service and law enforcement acted on our country’s behalf.”

Trump confirmed that an officer was shot during the attack but survived due to protective gear.

“He was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump stated. “I just spoke to the officer, and he’s doing great. He’s in very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him, and he’s a very proud guy.”

Trump used this opportunity to revisit his proposal for a new White House ballroom, citing the Hilton as “not a particularly secure building.”

“This is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House,” he said. “It’s actually a larger room, and it’s much more secure. It’s drone-proof, it’s bulletproof glass. That’s why the Secret Service, that’s why the military is demanding it. They wanted the ballroom for 150 years for lots of different reasons. But today is a little bit different, because today we need levels of security that probably nobody’s ever seen before.”

He called on Americans to resolve their differences peacefully. “In light of this evening’s events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts… we have to resolve our differences peacefully. I will say you have Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives. Those words are interchangeable, perhaps, but maybe they’re not.”

Trump linked the incident to two previous assassination attempts against him during the 2024 campaign.

“This is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill in Butler, Pennsylvania, less than two years ago.” He also referenced the September 2024 incident at his Palm Beach, Florida, golf club, praising law enforcement’s efforts.

“It’s a dangerous profession,” Trump remarked. “I can’t imagine that there’s any profession that’s more dangerous, but I love the country.”

After his remarks, Trump handed the microphone to Todd Blanche, the acting U.S. Attorney General, and Kash Patel, the FBI Director.

“The man has been captured,” Trump announced before stepping aside. “They’re going to his apartment. I guess he lives in California, and he’s a sick person, very sick person. And we don’t want things like this to happen.”

Trump also promised that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days, noting, “I fought like hell” not to cancel the event. He extended gratitude to the media, an unusual gesture given his history of opposing the press, stating, “We’re going to do it again. We’re not going to let anybody take over our society. We’re not going to cancel things out, because we can’t do that.”

He also expressed appreciation for the media, acknowledging their responsible coverage.

The FBI confirmed the suspected gunman had been apprehended.

“My impression is he was a lone wolf; a crazy person.”

Shortly after 9 p.m. ET, Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, informed the audience that the program would continue despite the chaos and Trump’s rapid exit. However, by 9:20 p.m. ET, security began clearing the ballroom, confirming the event’s cancellation.

The incident spurred immediate reporting from journalists across various media outlets, with many using social media to provide urgent updates. Among the administration officials present were Vice President JD Vance; White House Deputy Chief of Policy Stephen Miller; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; and Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk.

Trump has had a challenging relationship with mainstream media since his political emergence in 2015. Upon his return to the White House, his administration has persistently challenged journalistic norms, with Trump continuing to question the integrity and competence of major news organizations. He has also pursued litigation against ABC News, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, and others.