More than four decades after then-US President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt at the Washington Hilton Hotel, a similar scene of panic erupted at the same place on Saturday evening.The location of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the Washington Hilton, is sometimes colloquially referred to by locals as the “Hinckley Hilton,” in reference to the shooting of Reagan on March 30, 1981. During that incident, John Hinckley Jr. fired six shots at Reagan within seconds.One of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Ronald Reagan in the chest, seriously wounding him.
Three others were also injured, including press secretary James Brady, a police officer, and a Secret Service agent.Secret Service agents quickly forced Reagan into the car and took him to George Washington University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and survived, Fox News reported.John Hinckley Jr. was arrested at the scene and later acquitted by reason of insanity.On Saturday night, US President Donald Trump was taken to a safe location after a shooting was reported during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, sparking panic inside the venue and a rapid and widespread security response.
Trump, sitting at the main table, appeared stunned as the shots rang out, while First Lady Melania Trump was visibly shaken.Moments after gunshots were heard, screams of “Stay down!” and “Get down!” Guest voices were featured, including journalists, officials from the Trump administration and Cabinet members.In the ensuing chaos, US Secret Service agents, guns drawn, quickly surrounded Donald Trump and escorted him off the stage through a back curtain while attendees sat in shock.The music suddenly stopped, and the ballroom at the Washington Hilton fell silent as customers moved across the tables and onto the floor, securing the area.In a post on the Truth Social website following the incident, Trump described what happened as a “wonderful evening” and praised the security services for doing a “fantastic job.” He further stated that the shooter had been arrested and added that “the show must go on.”The Washington Hilton, long-time host of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, remains open to the public during the event, allowing regular guests to move through the hotel as usual. Security efforts are generally focused on the ballroom, rather than the entire building, with limited screening of those not attending the dinner itself.In past years, this arrangement has sometimes created opportunities for disturbances in public spaces such as the lobby, including protests where individuals held signs or held demonstrations before being removed by security.