President Trump, first lady Melania and a slew of top lawmakers and White House officials had to be dramatically evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday night after a gunman opened fire outside the ballroom.
The gunman has been detained — and possibly shot and killed, according to law enforcement sources.
He was intercepted at the metal detectors outside the Washington Hilton ballroom, where Trump and countless VIPS were set to toast the Washington press corps.
The president is safe and organizers of the star-studded “nerd prom” said the program will continue as planned.
Harrowing footage from the annual glitz gala showed at least five shots ringing out from the lobby, as more than 2,000 guests — including journalists and Trump officials — scrambled under tables for cover.
The shooting erupted less than 30 minutes after Trump and Melania made their grand entrance.
Trump, Melania, Vice President JD Vance, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt were among those at the dais who were rushed out of the ballroom by Secret Service agents.
The rest of Trump’s cabinet were then evacuated from room.
Sources told The Post the shooter was shot and killed after the shooting at the metal detectors outside the ballroom.
The Secret Service has since locked down the hotel.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who was inside the Washington Hilton at the time of the shooting, described hearing multiple shots in a tight corridor just outside the ballroom moments after dinner service had begun.
“It’s very, very worrisome what happened,” Blitzer told CNN, recounting how the chaos unfolded “just coincidentally after they served the appetizers.”
Blitzer said he had stepped out briefly and was climbing stairs leading to the lobby area when the shooting broke out.
“All of a sudden, I start hearing gunshots in the hall right near me,” he said. “And the next thing I knew, a police officer threw me to the ground and was on top of me.”
The shots rang out in close quarters, amplifying the fear.
Authorities quickly moved to secure the scene, physically restraining people in the vicinity and rushing them into nearby rooms for cover.
“The noise was so loud in a small area,” Blitzer said. “And all of a sudden, I am seeing gunshots.”
“They grabbed me, the police officers, and they take me back into the men’s room where I was safe,” he said, adding that roughly 15 men were locked inside as officers assessed the threat.
Trump will reportedly return to the dinner.
The event, hosted by the White House Correspondents Association, is expected to continue.
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