Lawmakers and journalists were in shock after a Washington media tradition turned violent on Saturday night, halting the White House correspondents’ dinner while the first course of burrata and greens sat on their plates.
“We thought that some of the plates for the dinner fell, and next thing you know, we all went under the table screaming,” said Jamie Raskin, a Maryland congressman who was among the 2,000 attendees gathered to celebrate press freedom. It was the first time that Donald Trump chose to attend the annual Washington event.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said that he was “a few feet away” from the shooter.
“The first thing that went through my mind: is he trying to shoot me?” Blitzer said in a CNN interview. “I don’t think he was trying to shoot me, but I was very close to him as the gunshots were fired and he was very, very scary. But I’m OK, now.”
Kerry Kennedy, a lawyer and human rights activist, said in a post that Raskin had whispered “you’re OK, you’re OK, you’re OK” to her from beneath their table.
Another guest estimated that he waited about five to 10 minutes under the table before Secret Service corralled the black tie attendees out of the dinner hall.
Trump and the first lady left the venue uninjured just before 10pm. The president gave a press briefing at the White House, and said that the event would be rescheduled in 30 days.
“Please get on your knees and pray for President Trump and for our country right now,” said Representative Nancy Mace on X amid mixed reports from the ballroom. “We are hearing reports the shooter has been apprehended,” she said.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said that an individual was in custody following Saturday’s event but did not release additional details about the suspect.
“It is a bit surprising because this is supposed to be the most secure place in Washington DC with cabinet members, president, vice-president, everybody here,” said Marcin Wrona, US correspondent for TVN Poland, who was attending the dinner. “Yes, we had attempts on President Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, in Florida. Am I very surprised? Unfortunately not.”