president donald trump First lady Melania Trump was abruptly evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night after a red alert prompted a swift response by the Secret Service.
Security was already extremely tight due to President Trump’s attendance, with multiple Secret Service presences inside the hotel, restricted access points, magnetometer screening, eligibility checkpoints, and a visible presence of law enforcement inside and outside the Hilton. Trump attended the dinner for the first time as president after years of boycotting.
defender He was in the hotel at the time, but not in the main ballroom when the disturbance occurred.
According to a report from the White House press corps, washington times Reporter Jeff Modoc said, “There were several loud bangs, and Secret Service agents ran out of the pool from the pool with guns drawn.” He added that the agents “pushed us back screaming, ‘Shots fired.”’
Attendees similarly reported hearing loud popping sounds coming from in or near the ballroom, prompting officials to move President Trump and first lady Melania Trump to the hotel’s secure presidential exit corridor.
Jiang Weijia, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, initially announced that the program would resume after 9 p.m. It’s unclear where the president was, but as of 8:56 p.m., a pool report said no reporters were part of the president’s motorcade returning to the White House.
9:17 p.m., President Trump Posted on Truth Social: “The D.C. Secret Service and law enforcement did a great job. They acted quickly and bravely. Now that the shooter has been arrested, I suggested, ‘Let’s get on with the show,’ but we will be under full law enforcement guidance. They will make a decision soon.”
He added: “Regardless of that decision, the night is going to be very different than planned and, frankly, we’re going to have to do it all over again.”
According to a pool report updated at 9:28 p.m., reporters were being removed from the hotel.
“Your puller requests information regarding the location of the President,” Modoc wrote. “Puller has requested updates and has not received any.”
At 9:36 p.m., President Trump posted a second update, writing, “Law enforcement is requesting that you vacate the premises in accordance with protocol, which we will do immediately.”
“The first lady, the vice president, and all members of the Cabinet are in good health,” he said, adding that he would hold a press conference within 30 minutes from the White House briefing room. President Trump also said he is speaking with event organizers and the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days.
This hotel has special security significance for the president. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously injured outside the Washington Hilton after giving a speech in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. The presidential access route, which was protected within the hotel, was later redesigned with the attack in mind and remains a central part of the presidential security plan at the venue.
This story is developing…
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
