US Secret Service agents swiftly evacuated Donald Trump from the stage after gunfire erupted during a high-profile media gala in Washington, triggering panic among guests and raising fresh concerns about presidential security.
Armed guards opened fire on a suspect who reportedly charged through a security checkpoint just outside the ballroom where Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, senior officials, and hundreds of guests had gathered. Attendees scrambled for cover as chaos broke out inside the venue.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service,” Trump said shortly after the incident.
“They seem to think he was a lone wolf, and I feel that too,” he added, after sharing footage showing the suspect sprinting past security as agents drew their weapons.
Authorities confirmed that law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who was detained at the scene. One officer was shot at close range but survived, with Trump noting the officer “appeared not to be critically injured.”
The suspect, believed to have been a guest at the hotel, was reportedly armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and knives. He is expected to face firearm and assault charges in court.
“Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the individual,” Washington police chief Jeffery Carroll said. “A US Secret Service uniformed division officer was struck in his vest. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He appears to be in good spirits.”
Trump said the venue was “not a particularly secure” facility and revealed he initially mistook the gunshots for a tray dropping before realizing the danger.
The dramatic incident adds to growing concerns about security lapses, coming after previous assassination attempts targeting Trump, including a 2024 rally shooting in Pennsylvania and another foiled attack at a Florida golf course.
Despite the scare, Trump said he intends to reschedule the gala within a month.
