President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after a shooter opened fire.

DC's biggest night of the year was plunged into chaos after shots rang out in the lobby of the Washington Hilton at around 8.15pm.

The President and First Lady were immediately taken to safety, followed by members of the cabinet who were hauled over barriers by the Secret Service.

The glitzy event was barely underway when a suspect armed with guns and knives stormed the hotel lobby. A source told the Daily Mail that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is the alleged shooter.

Terror erupted on Saturday night after Secret Service agents stormed the hotel ballroom instructing everyone to take cover. 

Thousands of guests were forced to dive under tables and chairs as audible gasps rippled through the room and the president was bundled out. Hundreds of journalists got on phones to call in information. 

United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said at a press conference shortly after that the suspect faces firearms and assault charges. 

The president has since confirmed that a Secret Service agent wearing a protective vest was shot, but is in 'great shape.'

He and the First Lady have since departed the hotel and returned to the White House, where he held a press conference and revealed he did not want to be evacuated.'

I fought like hell to stay,' Trump said. 'But they, it was protocol. They said, "Please, sir," because they didn't know. There was a lot of action going on, and they didn't know.'

When asked if he was the target, Trump replied, 'I guess.'

The President was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech. 

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests dining on burrata salad ducked under tables by the hundreds. 

'Out of the way, sir!' someone yelled. Others yelled to duck. 

'The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. One individual is in custody,' a White House official told The Daily Mail in a statement. 

The condition of those involved is not yet known and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.' 

Trump confirmed the gunman was in custody in a post to Truth Social.

'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again.'

About an hour later, however, WHCA President Weijia Jiang said that the Secret Service had asked everyone to leave. 

'We will do this again,' said Jiang. Shortly afterward, staff began breaking down table settings and the presidential lectern. 

Daily Mail reporters in attendance reported hearing three to four shots and hearing Secret Service agents yelling to get down. 

Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. 

The banquet hall — where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump's speech — was immediately evacuated. 

Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not re-enter. Security outside was also extremely tight.

It was not immediately clear what happened. A law enforcement official confirmed there was a shooter but no further details were immediately available. 

Those in attendance included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Anchor Wolf Blitzer later reported that the police said the gunman had a 'major weapon.' 

Trump alongside WHCA President Weijia Jiang, did not appear to notice the gunshots before they were evacuated, as the President was speaking to the host, mentalist Oz Pearlman.  

Shouts of 'God bless America' were heard throughout the ballroom as the entire dais was led out of the room, with many of the other guests still inside. 

Protesters had been spotted both outside and inside the Washington Hilton related to the Iran War and Israel's war on Hamas ahead of the dinner.  

Jiang announced about a half hour later that the program was set to resume in 'not much longer.' 

Trump arrived Saturday night to an event where the leaders of a nation at war mingled with celebrities, journalists and even a puppet — Triumph the Insult Comic Dog — in a dinner that typically generates debate about whether the relationship between journalists and their sources should include socializing together and putting aside sometimes adversarial relationships.

Trump and wife Melania popped up on stage after leaving the White House Saturday night, as the rest of the star studded attendees walked the red carpet and took their seats with JD Vance and his wife Usha, as well as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.  

The President has had a rocky relationship with the annual shindig, held by the White House Correspondents' Association, but was pleased to be named an honoree for this year's event.

Past presidents who have attended have generally spoken about the importance of free speech and the First Amendment, adding in some light roasts about individual journalists.

The Republican president did not attend during his first term or the first year of his second. 

He came as a guest in 2011, sitting in the audience as President Barack Obama, a Democrat, made some jokes about the New York real estate developer. 

Trump also attended as a private citizen in 2015.

Past dinners have also featured comedians who poke at presidents. This year, the group opted to hire mentalist Oz Pearlman as the featured entertainment.