Gunshots Evacuate White House Correspondents' Dinner
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- President Trump was slated to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, but was unharmed when gunshots erupted nearby.
- President Trump later said he hoped the dinner could be reconvened within 30 days, though attendees expressed uncertainty.
- Oz Pearlman performed his mentalist act for a small group of media executives in a darkened underground space after the evacuation.
- MS NOW shifted its after‑party to an underground trolley station, sent a dispatch to guests emphasizing a space for colleagues, and featured performances for Versant Media CEO Mark Lazarus and CNBC President KC Sullivan.
- NBC News kept its after‑event running, aired a special report by anchor Tom Llamas, and senior executives moved to a makeshift monitor room at the French ambassador’s residence.
- Washington police closed sections of Connecticut Avenue, blocking direct travel between the two after‑party locations.
Why it matters: The evacuation disrupted the traditional media gathering, forcing outlets like MS NOW and NBC News to improvise alternative spaces and coverage, while President Trump’s pledge to reconvene within 30 days pressures journalists to prepare for a rapid return to the high‑profile dinner, underscoring heightened security concerns for political events.
Ask SkimNews
