President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed off stage and evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner held at the Washington Hilton ballroom on Saturday night.

President Trump and the first lady were seated on the stage with the head of the White House Correspondents Association when the loud sounds were heard inside the ballroom. It was not immediately clear what the loud sounds that led to the evacuation were attributed to, but the president was removed from the dinner.

The room, which was filled with journalists, politicians, and celebrities, was not evacuated following the incident. Initial concern at the gala seemed to fade as security swept the ballroom and guests began to converse as they wait for any instructions.

Trump was attending the event for the first time since 2011.

On March 2, the president posted to his Truth Social account that this would be the year he would head to the Washington Hilton and step onto the stage in front of the people he has long referred to as the “enemy of the people.”

“In honor of our Nation’s 250th Birthday,” he wrote, “and the fact that these ‘Correspondents’ now admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country — the G.O.A.T., according to many — it will be my honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER OF ANY KIND, EVER!”

Trump’s attendance at the event came with controversy as Dan Rather, the Society of Professional Journalists, and 350-plus other journalists and organizations signed a letter calling on the body to “forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press.”

More to come.

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