In the hall, where several thousand guests, including politicians and journalists, were present, complete panic broke out as attendees sought cover, while Secret Service agents urgently evacuated the president and other high-ranking officials.
However, some guests took advantage of the moment of panic to grab bottles of expensive alcohol from the tables. The footage quickly spread on social media, and many used the situation to make jokes.
"Stealing alcohol in this case is not theft; it's called resource redistribution," one comment read.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is traditionally held at the Washington Hilton Hotel, which has previously been the site of security incidents, including an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
According to reports from global media, the attacker attempted to breach a security checkpoint at the hotel in Washington, leading to an exchange of fire with security forces. One agent was hit but, thanks to protective gear, escaped without serious injury, while the attacker was subdued and taken into custody.