President Donald Trump said that law enforcement subdued an armed man after he charged a security checkpoint for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, prompting a rapid evacuation of attendees from the Washington Hilton.
Trump said in an impromptu briefing from the White House roughly two hours afterward that he was unsure whether he was the suspect’s target. He said authorities believe the suspect was “a lone wolf.”
“He was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down,” Trump said. “They had him down. He was fighting hard. He was, in my opinion, a sick person. Who would do that but a sick person?”
Officials have not presented a possible motive for targeting the event, which featured the president, Cabinet members, politicians, journalists and celebrities. Authorities are investigating the suspect’s background and have gone to his apartment in California, Trump said.
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Law enforcement authorities said later that the suspect, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, shotgun and multiple knives, exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers. The suspect was not hit. Officials said they believed the man was a guest at the hotel.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the man was being charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. She said he would be arraigned on Monday in federal district court.
Trump posted a video to Truth Social of what appears to be footage of a man running quickly past law enforcement. In the video, multiple officers raise their guns and appear to gather around someone out of view. The president also posted photos of a handcuffed man lying on the ground with officers behind them.
One Secret Service agent was shot at close range but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is “doing great,” Trump said. “He’s in very high spirits.”
Trump recounted that first lady Melania Trump heard the sound of gunfire before he and other officials were “whisked away” out of the room. He called it “a rather traumatic experience for her.”
“I think she knew immediately what happened,” Trump said. “She was saying, ‘That’s a bad noise.’”
Trump, who was attending the dinner for the first time as president, said the event — which typically draws about 3,000 journalists, officials and guests — became a moment of unity, despite the violence. He hailed the organizers for arranging what had been a “beautiful evening” as well as the Secret Service and other authorities for their quick response.
“In light of this evening’s events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts and to resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said. “We have to resolve our differences.”
Trump said he hoped that the event would be held again in the coming weeks. He said he had wanted it to go on before deferring to law enforcement, who shut it down.
“I understand there was protocol, but we’re going to be doing one hopefully within the next 30 days or sooner,” he said. “And I am ready, willing and able. And I was all set to really rip it.”
This article has been updated with additional information on charges.
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