Hands tied, pinned to ground: Trump releases first photo of White House correspondents dinner
Trump also posted a clearer close-up image of the alleged attacker on social media.
The first image of the suspect who allegedly opened fire at a hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by Donald Trump and Melania Trump has come out. The blurry photo shows armed security officers holding down a man on the ground.
In the image, the suspect appears shirtless, with a sheet covering his lower body. The picture was shared by Russian state-backed broadcaster RT on X. The incident took place at the Hilton hotel in Washington. Later, Trump also posted a clearer close-up image of the alleged attacker on social media. Officials said the situation began when an armed man carrying a shotgun tried to break through security at the venue.
As gunshots were heard, dinner guests immediately panicked, with people shouting “Get down!” Hundreds of attendees quickly hid under tables while Secret Service officers in combat gear rushed into the hall.
Trump and the First Lady ducked behind the stage before being quickly escorted out by security as chaos spread across the room. Other guests also took cover as the shots rang out. About an hour after being evacuated, Trump posted on Truth Social that the suspect had been caught, while authorities were still assessing the situation.
He later praised the response, saying law enforcement did a great job, and confirmed that the First Lady, the Vice President, and all Cabinet members were safe.
According to an FBI official quoted by Reuters, the suspect fired at a Secret Service agent, but the bullet hit protective gear, leaving the agent unharmed. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the agency is investigating the shooting near the main security checkpoint at the event entrance.