White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt’s remarks before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner went viral after a shooting disrupted the event.Speaking before dinner, Levitt described the evening as “classic Donald Trump,” saying it would be “funny” and “entertaining,” adding that “there will be some shots fired tonight in the room,” a phrase that has since attracted widespread attention. “He’s ready to talk, I’ll tell you. This speech tonight is going to be classic Donald J. Trump. It’s going to be funny, it’s going to be entertaining. There’s going to be some shots fired tonight in the room. So everyone should listen to it. It’s going to be really great,” Leavitt said before the event.
US Secret Service agents quickly evacuated US President Donald Trump from the stage after gunshots rang out during a media event on Saturday evening, in what the president later described as an assassination attempt.According to officials, armed security personnel opened fire on the suspect, who forced his way through a security checkpoint outside the hall where Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, senior government officials and hundreds of guests gathered.Panic erupted as guests dove under tables for cover as Secret Service agents rushed to the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton, creating chaotic scenes inside the high-profile event in the US capital.
“A man attacked a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service,” Trump said at a White House press conference shortly after the incident.Trump said one of the officers was shot at close range, but his injury did not appear to be serious. He raised concerns about security at the venue, which he described as a facility that was “not particularly safe”.Speaking at the press conference, Trump said he initially mistook the sound for a falling tray before realizing it was the sound of gunfire. He added that he intends to reschedule the media event within a month despite the incident.City officials have identified the suspect as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, who is expected to be arraigned on firearms and assault charges on Monday.Authorities said he appeared to be a guest at the hotel and was carrying a rifle, a handgun and knives.
