An armed man with guns and knives opened fire near the ballroom where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, where US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were present.
Videos circulating online show agents covering Trump, before escorting him and Melania Trump out of the room.
The shooting suspect—who Trump posted a photo of on his Truth Social media platform—was identified as a 31-year-old man from California, according to law enforcement officials.
He is facing two firearm-related charges, including a count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
Immediately after the incident, the US President held a press conference, calling his profession a “dangerous profession” that attempted violence is “part of the job”.
“Today we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before,” the president said. But he also said, “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society.”
When asked by a reporter why he repeatedly has been the target for potential assassination, Trump replied that perhaps it was because he was “very influential” and compared himself to Abraham Lincoln.
“I’ve studied assassinations and I must tell you, the most impactful people, the people that do the most…Take a look at the people… Abraham Lincoln. […] But the people that make the biggest impact, they’re the ones that they go after,” Donald Trump said.
Abraham Lincoln was the first US President to be assassinated in 1865 when he was shot in the head.
Trump released video footage from the hotel’s security cameras, which captured the moment in which the gunman attempted to “break through” security at the reception area.
The US President praised members of his security detail for their immediate response, although the fact a man was able to come so close to the ballroom raised questions about security precautions.
One officer was shot in a bullet-resistance vest, who Trump said was “in good condition”.
This is a developing story. Our journalists will continue to bring you the latest.