White House dinner shooting latest: Trump safe as suspect in custody – UK Times

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has praised the secret service and law enforcement agencies for the swift response to the shooting.

He joined those expressing their relief that President Trump and the First Lady were safe following the shocking incident.

Footage from inside the dinner has revealed scenes of chaos and confusion as panicked guests took shelter under tables.

Secret service agents can be seen swarming the ballroom at the Washington Hilton after the gunman tried to storm the event, but was captured by law enforcement at a checkpoint in the hotel lobby.

One user X commented: “Now they’re talking about continuing this show? Are they crazy?

“HOLY CRAP! President Trump is STORMING BACK to the stage at the WHCA Dinner after the shooter was downed,” added conservative journalist Eric Daugherty. It’s unclear if Trump is returning to the event.

“He’s NEVER RELENTING! Our President the BEST! He makes it through everything.”

Eventually, it was announced the event would be scheduled to a later date.

UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington must be “condemned in the strongest possible terms”.

In a post on X, he tagged President Trump and said it is a “huge relief” that the president and First Lady are safe.

President Donald Trump had seemingly just arrived — and the military color guard could not have been out of the room for more than a few minutes — when what sounded like five shots rang out from just behind the door closest to the table that my two colleagues and I had been assigned to for Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop,” the jarring sounds rang out in rapid succession.

People told me they thought a server had dropped a tray behind closed doors. For some reason, I knew better.

I don’t know why I recognized the sound as gunshots, but I did.

There is ‘no reason to believe’ anyone else was involved the shooting, Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser said.

She told reporters the gunman was apprehended after he rushed a secret service checkpoint in the hotel lobby. One law enforcement official was shot, but saved by his bullet proof vest.

“We are so very thankful to members of law enforcement who did their jobs tonight and made sure that all guests were safe,” she added. “We have no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved.”

UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has sent a message to Donald Trump “in solidarity” after a gunman armed with “multiple weapons” tried to charge a Washington dinner.

Officials also revealed security discussions are underway ahead of King Charles’ state visit to the US next week, which includes several a White House banquet.

Asked about last night’s chaos, chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones told Sky News: “These are remarkable scenes. The prime minister has this morning sent a message to the President of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place.

“He also said that “extensive discussions” are taking place over the King’s security ahead of his state visit to the United States next week.

“As you would imagine, with the His Majesty the King, this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place”, Mr Jones said.

Asked whether the government now has any extra concerns about the King’s security, he said: “As you would imagine, the government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.”

The shooting on Saturday night of a Secret Service agent at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner raises questions yet again about the protection afforded to America’s political leaders at a time of increased political violence.

Hundreds of agents from ⁠several law enforcement agencies were tasked with protecting the annual bash, which President Donald Trump headlined this year.

Yet a suspect with a shotgun and other weapons managed to get just a floor above the Washington ballroom where an extraordinary concentration of cabinet members, high-ranking lawmakers and celebrities were dining.

In addition to Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott ⁠Bessent, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and various other government officials were in attendance, ​many ⁠with their own security details.