President and other top leaders evacuated from the annual dinner after an unspecified threat
WHCA had hoped to resume the dinner, but now many of the journalists from the dinner are trying to make it to the White House in time to attend the president’s press briefing. Many of the roads around the hotel are closed or blocked.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is a black-tie event hosted by the association of journalists who cover the US president, held annually in the cavernous ballroom of the Washington Hilton.
Known as “nerd prom” the evening has traditionally been attended by the president, political leaders, comedians and celebrities, who come together in celebration of press freedom. However, Trump had made it a practice not to attend during his first term. This year was the first time he had ever attended the event, and was set to make a speech. The featured entertainer this year was mentalist and magician Oz Pearlman.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said he was within a few feet of the shooter, and called into CNN to describe his observations.
