Erika Kirk was immediately evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after shots rang out inside the Washington Hilton. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed off stage in Washington, DC, Saturday night after shots were fired, with many of the other guests still inside the ballroom.
Kirk was among the first evacuated, suggesting she was prioritized in being rushed to safety, particularly following her husband's violent death last year. In a post shared to X, Turning Point Action sponsor Derek Myers wrote: 'Erika is okay but very upset. She was crying.'
In a statement to the Daily Mail, a White House spokesperson said: 'The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.'
'One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,' the statement added.
The President was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech. The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. 'Out of the way, sir!' someone yelled. Others yelled to duck.
About an hour later, the White House confirmed the President and First Lady would return to the event. Trump confirmed the gunman was in custody in a post to Truth Social.
'Quite an evening in DC. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,' the president wrote. 'The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly,' he added. 'Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.'
