A security scare at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has raised concerns about the safety of attendees and the president. Amid reports of the shooting, a female security officer took charge while images of Mike Johnson appearing to storm out of the venue went viral.
The incident took place at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where top political leaders, journalists and celebrities gathered. Security personnel acted quickly to bring the situation under control, according to videos circulating on social media and eyewitness accounts circulating online.
President Donald Trump and key attendees were evacuated and moved to safety as panic briefly gripped parts of the venue.
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Mike Jonsson was filmed leaving the scene of a shooting
Initial reports suggested a shooting or possible gun-related incident prompted an evacuation response, but authorities have not confirmed whether the shooting occurred inside or nearby the venue.
According to eyewitness accounts of the chaos, reporters and others hid under tables as security personnel rushed in. Other reports said the alleged gunman was arrested or subdued within a secure perimeter.
During the evacuation, Reuters highlighted two images that attracted attention and became a topic of discussion online.
Images captured by Reuters show two very different situations, with an unidentified female security official being praised online and a photo of a White House spokesperson quickly leaving the scene with the Secret Service behind her.
“As always, we are grateful to law enforcement.”
After the gunman was subdued and everyone was safely evacuated, Johnson provided an update on X’s condition.
“Kelly and I attended the event tonight and we are thankful that no innocent people were harmed and everyone is safe now,” Johnson wrote.
He further thanked law enforcement, writing: “As always, we are grateful to law enforcement and first responders for acting so quickly to control the situation. Praying for our country tonight.”
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Social media reaction to Johnson
The pictures took social media by storm.
One user on
Another user on X mocked Johnson’s running style, wrote“Mike Johnson is a coward! Security officials almost took him away.”
Some users defended him. One user noted the seriousness of the situation and wrote“She has a gun, Johnson doesn’t. Guns are the great equalizer. Women should carry them.”
