Donald Trump has issued a stark rallying cry to Americans at a hastily convened press conference in the West Wing only moments after a gunman attacked the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner.
'In light of tonight’s events I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts to resolving our differences peacefully,' the president told reporters.
Most reporters had rushed over from the Hilton hotel which was hosting the dinner just over one mile away, with many still wearing their black tie and ball gowns from the ritzy gala.
'This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press… and in a certain way it did,' Trump said. 'I saw a room that was totally unified. In one way it was a very beautiful thing to see.'
The president praised what he described as 'a tremendous amount of love and coming together' on the aftermath of the shocking scenes, in which a member of the secret service was shot.
'You had Republicans, Democrats, Independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives. There was a record setting group of people. An there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together. I watched and I was very impressed by that.'
Trump’s attendance at Saturday’s annual dinner in Washington for his first time as president is putting his administration’s often-contentious relationship with the press on full public display.
Trump arrived to an event where the leaders of a nation at war mingled with celebrities, journalists in a dinner that typically generates debate about whether the relationship between journalists and their sources should include socializing together and putting aside sometimes adversarial relationships.
Most reporters had rushed over from the Hilton hotel which was hosting the dinner just over one mile away, with many still wearing their black tie and ball gowns from the ritzy gala
'In light of tonight’s events I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts to resolving our differences peacefully,' the president told reporters
The First Lady was among the prominent figures watching from the sidelines as Donald Trump addressed reporters. The president said the incident had been 'traumatic' for his wife Melania
Past presidents who have attended have generally spoken about the importance of free speech and the First Amendment, adding in some light roasts about individual journalists.
The Republican president did not attend during his first term or the first year of his second. He came as a guest in 2011, sitting in the audience as President Barack Obama, a Democrat, made some jokes about the New York real estate developer. Trump also attended as a private citizen in 2015.
Trump entered the banquet hall of the Washington Hilton to the strains of “Hail to the Chief” and greeted prominent journalists on the dais, also pausing to laud White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt with a cheerful pointing of his finger.
Past dinners have also featured comedians who poke at presidents. This year, the group opted to hire mentalist Oz Pearlman as the featured entertainment.