Trump Evacuated From DC Dinner After Shots Fired, Sparking Market Fears

President Donald Trump was abruptly evacuated by Secret Service from the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday after reports of gunfire at the Washington Hilton hotel, an incident poised to trigger significant risk-off sentiment in global markets.

"Out of the way, sir!" a Secret Service agent was heard yelling as they swarmed the dais, according to an Associated Press report from inside the ballroom. The evacuation occurred while the President was seated at the head table, forcing an immediate halt to the evening’s festivities. First Lady Melania Trump and other senior officials, including Vice President JD Vance, were also escorted from the room.

The evacuation occurred just minutes into the annual event, with C-SPAN host John McArdle reporting he heard "boom, boom, boom" as salad was being served. While the White House has not disclosed the nature of the threat, CNN's Kaitlan Collins reported a shooter was shot dead on the first floor of the hotel, a detail that remains unconfirmed by official sources. Following the evacuation, the ballroom was placed under a temporary lockdown.

The incident injects a fresh dose of political uncertainty into financial markets. The last time a US president faced a direct security threat of this nature was the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan, which caused an initial 2.5% drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The potential for a prolonged investigation or further political instability could see a flight to safety, with analysts watching for a spike in the VIX volatility index and a rally in safe-haven assets like gold and US Treasury bonds when markets open.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.