White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt promised there can be “photographs fired” in President Donald Trump’s White Home Correspondents’ Dinner speech minutes earlier than actual gunfire erupted on the gala.
“[Trump] is able to rumble,” Leavitt, 28, advised Fox Information on the pink carpet on the Washington Hilton on Saturday, April 25. “I’ll inform you, this speech tonight might be traditional Donald J. Trump.”
She then declared, “[The speech] might be humorous. Will probably be entertaining. There might be some photographs fired tonight within the room.”
Leavitt — who’s pregnant — was evacuated from the Washington Hilton ballroom moments later alongside Donald, 79, first girl Melania Trump and different administration officers when photographs rang out close to the venue’s “major magnetometer”, per the Secret Service.
Washington D.C. legislation enforcement officers confirmed {that a} 31-year-old man from California was apprehended through the taking pictures incident and has been charged with two counts of utilizing a firearm and one rely of assault on a federal officer utilizing a harmful weapon. (The suspect’s motives and situation stay unknown.)
A Secret Service agent was shot through the crossfire. The president later confirmed in a information convention that the injured agent was recovering within the hospital.
“The vest did its job. I simply spoke to the officer and he’s doing nice,” he advised reporters.
Saturday’s White Home Correspondents’ Dinner was presupposed to be a short lived farewell for Leavitt as a result of she is predicted to ship her second little one very quickly. (Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, additionally share a son, Niko, who was born in July 2024.)
“This can doubtless be my final gaggle for a while,” she advised reporters on Friday, April 24. “As you possibly can see, I’m about able to have a child any minute, so I’ll see you guys very quickly.”

Karoline Leavitt listens to US President Donald Trump’s press convention. Getty Photographs/Kent NISHIMURA / AFP
She added, “I do know you’ll be in good palms with my staff right here on the White Home. And I do know all of you may have the president’s cellphone quantity personally, so I’ve little question that you’ll have no scarcity of statements and information from this constructing whereas I’m gone.”
Nevertheless, Leavitt was unexpectedly thrust again onto the job following the taking pictures on the White Home Correspondents’ Dinner dinner as she personally confirmed that Trump deliberate to carry a press convention late Saturday night time.
Throughout his remarks, Trump mentioned he was “honored to be a goal” regardless of a number of makes an attempt on his life in the previous few years. (Trump survived being shot within the ear throughout a marketing campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. One other suspected shooter was apprehended on the Trump Worldwide Golf Membership in West Palm Seashore, Florida, in September 2024.)
“While you have a look at our nice presidents, [this] doesn’t occur to individuals who don’t do something,” Trump mentioned.
The star-studded visitor record for Saturday’s White Home Correspondents’ Dinner included Turning Level USA CEO Erika Kirk, whose late husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot at age 31 in September 2025. CNN reported that she was seen crying and telling aides she “simply need[ed] to depart” following the taking pictures.




