Dutch reporter describes chaos after gunfire at White House Correspondents’ dinner
Updated at 12:30 to add P.M. Jetten's comment.
The shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., which triggered the evacuation of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, senior officials, and hundreds of guests, was recounted to NOS by the Dutch correspondent present at the scene. The American authorities later confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody.
NOS's U.S. correspondent Rudy Bouma, seated near a hallway close to where the incident unfolded, described immediate panic as security forces rushed into the ballroom and attendees dove for cover.
The incident unfolded shortly after 8:30 p.m. inside the basement ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where President Trump was on stage speaking with CBS reporter Weijia Jiang. The room was filled with journalists, political staff, and senior officials. Loud popping sounds were heard from the lobby area. According to the Washington Post, Trump later said, “I thought it was a tray going down.”
Within seconds, Secret Service agents rushed the stage and removed Vice President JD Vance, followed by President Trump. Other senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were also evacuated in rapid succession. “When those shots were heard, many Secret Service agents immediately rushed into the hall,” Bouma said.
Law enforcement officers shouted instructions as they moved through the room. “Clear a path! Clear a path!” agents ordered while pushing through tables and chairs to reach exits. Some attendees were injured during the evacuation, including a Justice Department official who reported a head injury.
He added that panic spread instantly among those inside. “And everyone at our table dove under the table. A woman next to me, a local reporter, started crying and had to be comforted. There was a waitress under the table, literally praying. So yes, many emotions and fear came out at that moment.”
Security instructions inside the venue were reportedly conflicting at times, with some officials ordering immediate evacuation while others initially suggested the program might continue.
Bouma emphasized how crowded the room was at the time of the incident. “You don’t want to think about what could have happened if this shooter had managed to enter the hall. Because it was packed. Packed. Not only journalists, but also politicians. Prominent members of Trump’s Cabinet.”
Outside the ballroom, Secret Service agents established control of the area while law enforcement evacuated the building. Attendees were escorted through exits as officers moved through the hotel to secure the scene.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten described the shooting as a “shocking incident.” “In a democracy, violence is never the solution; differences of opinion are resolved through words,” the prime minister added on social media. He said he was “glad that President Trump and other attendees (...) remained unharmed.”
Following the incident, the Washington Hilton, a long-standing venue for the annual correspondents' dinner in Washington, D.C., quickly implemented tight security measures. Authorities said a suspect is in custody and is expected to be arraigned on Monday.
