Trump urges calm after WHCD shooting triggers panic, calls for peaceful political discourse

WASHINGTON, DC: After gunfire disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD), President Donald Trump addressed a press conference and urged for peaceful political discourse.

Trump confirmed the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) at the Washington Hilton and urged Americans to recommit to peace.

Trump urges Americans to recommit to peaceful dialogue

During the press briefing after the incident, Trump said, "I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts and resolve our differences peacefully.”

“We have to resolve our differences. I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives,” he added.

Offering an update on the shooting at the correspondents’ dinner, Donald Trump confirmed that a security officer was shot after a man opened fire, adding that the injured officer is doing well.

Trump said one officer was struck by gunfire during the incident but was protected by a bulletproof vest, emphasizing that the situation could have been worse.

“One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing a very good bulletproof vest,” Trump said.

“He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job.”

Gunshots heard shortly after Trump’s arrival at WHCD

Nearly 30 minutes after President Donald Trump, joined by first lady Melania Trump, arrived at the correspondents’ dinner, gunshots were heard at the venue. As soon as the suspect fired near the metal detectors outside the ballroom, security service agents escorted the President and first lady, along with other VIPs, out of the venue.

Describing the chaos and panic that unfolded after the shooting, a NewsNation White House correspondent said that everybody went under tables.

“We were sitting here, and we just heard a loud ‘pop, pop, pop.’ Everybody just went under the table, and we didn’t know what was happening,” Kellie Meyer told the outlet shortly after the disturbance.

In video from the annual dinner, firing in the lobby of the Washington Hilton is heard, sending more than 2,000 guests, including journalists and Trump officials, into panic.

Trump pushes White House ballroom plan after WHCD shooting

During the press briefing, Trump advocated the construction of the proposed ballroom with stronger security measures. He emphasized that the Washington Hilton is not a particularly secure building.

“It’s not a particularly secure building,” he said. “This is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House.”

“It’s actually a larger room, and it’s much more secure. It’s drone-proof, it has bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom,” Trump added.