White House dinner shooting sparks panic as correspondents duck under tables during chaos

Witnesses thought a tray was falling—until bullets rang

A glitzy Washington Hilton dinner where President Donald Trump was to speak to journalists turned chaotic when shots rang out. Agents rushed across the ballroom, plates crashed, and correspondents reportedly ducked under tables as cries of “Get down!” spread. Media accounts also recall moments of confusion, comparing the sudden commotion to something like a falling tray.