WASHINGTON: A suspected gunfire incident caused panic during a dinner event at the White House, prompting security personnel to swiftly escort Donald Trump out of the venue, according to US media reports.
The incident occurred during a gathering held in honour of media representatives, where a loud bang—believed to be gunfire was heard shortly after the event began. The unexpected sound triggered a brief period of chaos, with attendees reacting in alarm.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that moments before the disturbance, President Trump was handed a note by security personnel. A similar note was reportedly shown to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Observers noted visible concern among guests seated near the president.
As the sound echoed through the venue, several attendees reportedly ducked or moved away from their seats, while members of the United States Secret Service quickly intervened. Armed agents were seen taking positions, and the president was escorted out of the hall as a precautionary measure.
The event, attended by senior officials including Vice President JD Vance, was expected to feature remarks by President Trump. However, he had not returned to the venue at the time of reporting.
Security officials are currently assessing the situation, and it remains unclear whether the sound originated from an actual shooting or another source. No injuries have been reported so far.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement detailing the nature of the incident as investigations continue.
Trump signals openness to Iran talks, says “They can call anytime”
Earlier, United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will hold talks with the leadership of Iran, stating that he will be ready to “talk to anyone who’s controlling Iran.” The President added that Iran can reach out to him whenever they want to.
Addressing the press, President Trump indicated that internal processes taking place in Iran might contribute to instability. In particular, according to him, there are serious internal power struggles for leadership in Iran: “There is serious internal conflict in Iran,” Trump added. “They are arguing who controls the leadership.”
Moreover, the US President cited diplomatic engagements where American diplomats Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were involved. Specifically, Trump mentioned that a proposed engagement between American diplomats and Iranians was called off due to disagreements regarding dates. As noted by the President, Americans were told that Iranians would agree to meet on Tuesday, which did not suit him as a date for discussions.
“We will not fly for 15 or 16 hours to sit around,” Trump explained. However, despite this setback, new diplomatic engagements emerged immediately afterwards.
As for the proposed alternative plan, Trump noted that “minutes after the cancellation,” a better plan than the initial one was presented to him.
In addition, Trump pointed out that Tehran made several offers but, according to the US leader, none of them was sufficient to satisfy Washington’s requirements. The president did not reveal any details regarding the offers or the conditions discussed.
Commenting on the issue of establishing a ceasefire or finding other diplomatic solutions, Trump stated that the question had not yet been resolved.
