US secret service agents, weapons drawn, jumped onto banquet tables as gunshots echoed outside the ballroom hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel on the evening of 25/4.

The gunman attempted to breach security checkpoints but was stopped by secret service agents before entering the ballroom. A bullet struck one agent's bulletproof vest, and the agent was then transported to a hospital.

US President Donald Trump stated that the agent was shot at close range but was in good condition thanks to the bulletproof vest. "He is very optimistic and proud of his work," Trump said. "We expressed our affection and respect for him."

Outside the entrance, agents drew their weapons upon hearing the explosion.

Guests began entering the ballroom at 19h30. Trump and the First Lady arrived at 20h15. Approximately 20 minutes later, dinner guests quickly ducked for cover under their tables after hearing the gunshots.

Trump, Melania, Vice President JD Vance, and other cabinet members were evacuated and remained safe.

"We thought some plates had fallen from the table, then suddenly we all dove under tables, screaming," recounted Jamie Raskin, a Maryland state congressman.

White House Director of Personnel Dan Scavino leaped over a chair in the ballroom.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff and US Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller evacuated his pregnant wife.

One guest reported waiting for about 5-10 minutes under a table before security forces escorted attendees out of the ballroom.

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (wearing a bow tie) was escorted out by secret service personnel.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an annual event organized by the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), first held in 1921. This year's event had approximately 2,600 attendees.

Broken glass lay on the staircase outside the event ballroom.

Political commentator Debra Lea criticized the hotel's security measures. "No pat-downs, no metal detectors, nothing at all," Lea stated.

Kari Lake, a former television host, described the security as "lax," noting that no one asked her to present a ticket or photo identification at the entrance.

"When you consider you're walking into a room full of fake news media, 90% of whom hate the President, you'd think security would be tighter," she quipped.

Guests comforted each other and called loved ones after being evacuated to a safe area.

The assailant, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, residing in Torrance, California, was apprehended. He is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Washington on 27/4, facing charges of using a firearm during a violent act and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

US security forces patrolled the hotel lobby with weapons.

"This is not necessarily a secure building," Trump commented on the Washington Hilton, a hotel located approximately 10 minutes' drive from the White House. This was the site of an attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

However, Trump asserted that the gunman was "very far from breaching" the security perimeter at the ballroom entrance.

Hotel staff cleaned the banquet hall following the shooting.

During a subsequent White House press conference, Trump informed reporters that the dinner would be rescheduled within the next 30 days. "Tonight was a little different than anticipated. But we will reschedule," he stated.

Hong Hanh (Photos: AFP, AP, Reuters)