Amidst the glitz and glamour of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, FBI Director Kash Patel emerged as an unexpected guardian when the evening took a harrowing turn. As gunfire erupted in the lobby of the Washington Hilton, chaos rippled through the venue around 8:15 p.m., sparking an immediate response from the Secret Service who moved swiftly to shield President Donald Trump and attendees.
Patel, attending the event as a guest of the Daily Mail with his partner, country singer Alexis Wilkins, demonstrated quick thinking under pressure. He urged those at his table to take cover, instructing them to “get down” as they sought safety from the unfolding threat.
Journalists, caught off-guard, sought refuge under tables and on the floor. Patel’s voice cut through the tension, repeatedly urging everyone to “stay down” until the situation was under control.
Amid the panic, Daily Mail reporters at the scene recounted the chilling sound of three to four gunshots and the urgent commands from Secret Service agents directing everyone to seek cover.
Once the immediate danger subsided, Patel and Wilkins ensured the safety of those nearby, inquiring about their well-being before being escorted out by his security team. The night, intended for celebration and camaraderie, instead highlighted the unpredictable nature of such high-profile gatherings.
When it was safe to stand back up, Patel and Wilkins asked the reporters standing next to them if they were OK, and then were escorted out of the ballroom by his security detail.
FBI Director Kash Patel and his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, leave the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a shooter opened fire
Patel did not take cover under the table like others, remaining upright as he told those at his table to ‘stay down’
‘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,’ a White House official told the Daily Mail in a statement.
‘The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,’ the statement said.
Trump confirmed the gunman was in custody in a post to Truth Social, which he reiterated at a White House briefing a little after 10:30pm.
‘Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. 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. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again,’ the President wrote on Truth Social.
Trump and the First Lady departed the hotel and returned to the White House.
Melania Trump wasn’t on hand during the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on the then-presidential candidate’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump noted how the experience at the dinner tonight was ‘rather traumatic’ for her.
‘I can’t imagine there’s a profession that’s more dangerous,’ he also said at the press briefing.
The President was attending the event for the first time since 2015 and was set to be deliver remarks for the first time as a sitting commander-in-chief.
FBI Director Kash Patel seen moments after a gunman opened fire at the dinner on Saturday night
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both rushed off stage from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton. They are seen during the National Anthem
Journalists immediately huddled on the floor as Secret Service agents rushed into the room
‘I was all set to really rip it,’ Trump said at the briefing. ‘This would be the most inappropriate speech, but I don’t know if I could ever be as rough as I was going to be tonight.’
The President generally delivers a roast at Correspondents’ Dinner.
Patel later spoke alongside Trump in the briefing room, commending law enforcement for their swift action.
He also asked Americans for any information they could reveal about the shooter’s motive.
‘No piece of information is too small, no piece of information is inadequate,’ Patel said. ‘We will evaluate it all.’
