More than four decades after then-President Ronald Reagan was assassinated at the Washington Hilton Hotel, a similar scene of panic unfolded at the same venue on Saturday night.The Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is held, is sometimes colloquially referred to by locals as the “Hinkley Hilton” in reference to the March 30, 1981, shooting of Ronald Reagan. In that incident, John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan six times in a matter of seconds.One of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Ronald Reagan in the chest, seriously injuring him. Three other people were also injured, including press secretary James Brady, a police officer and a Secret Service agent.Secret Service agents quickly forced Reagan into a car and rushed 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 found not guilty by reason of insanity.On Saturday night, the President of the United States Donald Trump He was rushed to safety after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, triggering panic within the venue and prompting a massive security response. Trump, who was seated at the head table, appeared shaken when shots rang out, while first lady Melania Trump was visibly shaken.Shortly after the gunshots were fired, shouts of “Get down!” and “Get down!” guests, including journalists, Trump administration officials and Cabinet members, took cover.In the ensuing chaos, U.S. Secret Service agents, weapons drawn, quickly surrounded Donald Trump and escorted him from the podium through a rear curtain as attendees crouched in shock.The music suddenly stopped and the ballroom at the Washington Hilton fell silent as agents moved across tables and across the floor to secure the area.After the incident, Trump wrote a post on Truth Social, calling it “a pretty good night” and praising security agencies for doing a “great job.” He further said that the gunman had been arrested, adding that “the show must go on.”The Washington Hilton, a long-time host of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, typically opens its doors to the public during the event, allowing regulars to move through the hotel as usual. Security is usually concentrated in the ballroom rather than throughout the hotel, with limited checks on those not attending the dinner.In past years, the arrangement created occasional opportunities for disruption in public areas such as the lobby, including protests where some people unfurled banners or staged demonstrations before being dispersed by security personnel.
