President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the White House late Saturday night after being evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner during a shooting incident.
Trump praised the rapid response by security and law enforcement, saying the situation was “incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law enforcement.” He confirmed that a Secret Service officer was struck at “very close range,” but was protected by a “very good bulletproof vest” and is now in good condition.
“He has very high spirits. And we told him we love him,” Trump added, expressing support for the injured officer and commending the emergency response.
Trump also criticized the security of the Washington Hilton, the venue that hosted the dinner, calling it “not a particularly secure building.” He used the incident to emphasize his push for a White House ballroom, arguing it would offer significantly stronger protections.
“It’s much more secure. It’s got, it’s drone proof. It’s bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. That’s why Secret Service, that’s why the military are demanding it,” Trump said.
He added that the ballroom itself where the event took place was well-protected, noting, “The ballroom was very, very secure. The ballroom was sealed.”