USA Shots fired in Washington: Attacker wants to storm gala with Trump
It should have been a festive evening in the US capital Washington - and ended in a shootout. A heavily armed man tried to gain access to the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, ran through the security gate - and was stopped just in time by emergency services. In addition to US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania and several cabinet members were also present. None of the guests were injured, but a security guard was shot.
26.04.2026, 09:24
SDA
What is known about the crime
According to previous findings, the attacker stormed through a Secret Service access gate at around half past eight in the evening and engaged in a gun battle with security officers. Trump posted a video on social media showing the alleged perpetrator sprinting past the officers before they opened fire.
The man was armed with a shotgun, handgun and several knives. A Secret Service officer was hit by at least one bullet and saved by his protective vest, according to Trump. "I just spoke to the officer, and he's fine," Trump said at a press conference at the White House.
The attacker was arrested without being hit by bullets. A photo showed armed officers surrounding a person lying on the ground. According to Trump, the man is from California. "And he's a sick person, a very sick person." According to several media reports, the alleged perpetrator is 31 years old. There was initially no official information on the identity of the perpetrator.
According to initial findings, both Trump and the security authorities assume that it was a lone perpetrator. However, the motive for the crime remains completely unclear. Asked whether he saw a connection with the Iran war, Trump said: "I don't think so. But you never know."
The attacker, who was taken to hospital for examination, has since been questioned. He is to be brought before a judge on Monday.
"We have to settle our differences"
Under the impression of what had happened, Trump appeared before the press visibly marked. "In light of the events of this evening, I call on all Americans to make a heartfelt commitment to resolve our differences peacefully," he said. "We must... we must settle our differences."
Guests were at the hors d'oeuvres when the shots rang out
The traditional White House Correspondents' Dinner had just begun and the guests were enjoying their appetizers when suddenly a commotion broke out in the room. "Get down, get down," rang through the room. The guests remained on the floor for minutes, ducking under the tables - some visibly in shock.
When they stood up again, the table of honor, where Donald and Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, among others, had been seated shortly before, was already empty. Heavily armed security forces stood in the room, where there was initially talk of an unspecified firearms incident. Reporters positioned close to the hall doors reported several loud noises.
Trump and organizers demand new edition of the gala
It was announced several times that the gala program should continue immediately, and Trump also called for this in a post immediately after the attack. But this did not happen. Instead, the chairwoman of the journalists' association, Weijia Jiang, announced that Trump would be giving a press conference at the White House in 30 minutes. "This is not a joke," she says to bursts of laughter. A short time later, Trump and several members of the cabinet meet with many of the journalists present in the White House briefing room - all still in evening dress.
According to the security authorities, the perpetrator was a guest at the Hilton Hotel where the dinner was taking place. Guests did not have to pass through a security gate to get into the hotel. Only when they wanted to enter the ballroom where the dinner was taking place were their bags checked and they were all taken through a security gate.
Not the first incident at the Hilton Hotel
The incident at the Hilton Hotel brings back dark memories of a bloody incident 45 years ago. At that time, an assassination attempt was made on then President Ronald Reagan, who survived seriously injured.
