The shooting inside the venue hosting the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner has renewed attention on President Donald Trump’s push for a secure White House ballroom — an idea he argues could help reduce such risks.

Trump pointed to the incident to criticize the hotel as insufficiently secure, promoting a new ballroom with features like reinforced materials.

The proposal, however, faces legal and political hurdles. Courts are weighing whether the administration bypassed required approvals, while critics question the cost and potential impact on the historic complex.

The planned 90,000-square-foot space would seat about 650 guests and replace the East Wing, marking a major change to the White House footprint. Supporters frame it as a largely privately funded security upgrade, while opponents see it as an unnecessary overhaul.

While the White House has hosted countless ceremonial events, it has never had a dedicated ballroom. The new structure would fill that gap, replacing the historic East Wing with a space built to accommodate large-scale gatherings.

U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran praised law enforcement’s response after a 31-year-old California man allegedlyopened fireoutside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, striking a Secret Service agent.

An agent was shot in the vest after the gunman entered the Washington Hilton, rushed past a magnetometer and opened fire. The agent is OK.

“Tonight we saw exactly what our brave men and women do each and every day to protect our protectees,” Curran said in a statement. “It’s not easy, and I will tell you that they performed admirably. We got to see what they do. And that individual, when he charged a checkpoint, was apprehended.”

“It shows that our multi-layered protection works,”Curran continued. “And I’m grateful to our partners that help assist us with building these sites and protecting these sites.”

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin commended President Donald Trump for showing “incredible composure and leadership” following a shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.

“Thankfully, President Trump, the First Lady, all members of the Cabinet, the media, and guests are safe,” Mullin said in a post on X. “@POTUS has displayed incredible composure and leadership tonight.”

“I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement personnel for their quick and heroic actions,” he added. “An investigation is ongoing, and we will provide updates as they become available.”

Trump was escorted from the Washington Hilton after shots were reported near a security screening area. One suspect has been taken into custody.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacted to the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, calling it a “terrifying act of violence.”

“It is a great relief that the President, First Lady and everyone in attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is safe following a terrifying act of violence inside the venue,” Pelosi said in a statement.

“The brave men and women of the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement are to be commended for their swift action to secure the scene and protect those present,” she added.

Pelosi also expressed concern for those affected.

“As someone whose family has suffered political violence, my prayers are with the injured officer and all those affected by the trauma of these horrible incidents,” she said.

Pelosi’s husband was attacked with a hammer at their San Francisco home in 2022.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday that the individual who rushed toward the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is facing federal charges, with more likely to follow.

Pirro said the suspect, who has not been identified, is currently charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

“Right now, the defendant is being charged with two counts — 924(c), using a firearm during a crime of violence, and a second charge under 111, which is assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon,” Pirro said during a news conference.

She said the suspect is expected to be arraigned in federal district court Monday and could face additional charges.

“But make no mistake, there will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,” Pirro added.

The shooting near President Trump and several Cabinet members at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is intensifying scrutiny of the Democrats’ funding standoff in Congress, which has left the Department of Homeland Security — including the Secret Service — in a prolonged funding lapse.

The incident comes as the standoff stretches past 60 days, with Democrats blocking funding measures and rejecting multiple Republican-backed proposals to reopen the department. The dispute, centered on immigration enforcement policy, has raised concerns about resources for agencies including the Secret Service, FEMA and the Coast Guard, all of which fall under DHS.

The episode adds to a series of recent security threats involving Trump, underscoring the strain on federal protective services. The Secret Service, tasked with protecting the president, vice president, their families and other senior officials, has faced growing demands in recent years.

Last week, Secret Service Director Sean Curran warned lawmakers the agency is not adequately staffed to handle major upcoming events, including the FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Olympics and the next presidential cycle — highlighting mounting concerns about staffing and resources.

President Donald Trump praised law enforcement Saturday night after a gunman rushed toward the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“He charged from 50 yards away, so he was very far away from the room,” Trump said during a news conference from the White House.

“He was moving,” Trump added. “He was really moving.”

Trump commended the responding officers for their quick reaction.

“The reaction time was great,” he said. “Boy, those guys — they had their guns drawn. By the time he was there, they were shooting. I thought they were very impressive. And if I didn’t, I’d let you know.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Saturday night that charges are expected to be filed soon following the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“This investigation is ongoing,” he said during the briefing at the White House. “I expect you will see charges filed shortly.”

“The charges should be self-evident given the conduct,” he continued. “But as you’ll hear, there will be multiple charges surrounding the shooting, around the possession of firearms and anything else that we can get on this guy.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., thanked first responders for quickly responding to the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.

Johnson was attending the event at the Washington Hilton hotel with his wife, Kelly.

“Kelly and I were at the event tonight, and we’re thankful no innocent people were harmed and everyone is now safe,” Johnson said in a post on X.

“We’re grateful as always for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control,” he added. “Praying for our country tonight.”

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who was shot in the hip by a gunman during a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game in 2017, reacted to the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the brave members of law enforcement who acted quickly to protect all of us attending tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” he said in a statement.

“This is an event meant to bring people together,” he added. “Violence has NO place in our country.”

Locals indelicately call the location of the White House Correspondents Dinner — the Washington Hilton Hotel — the “Hinckley Hilton” because of the shooting of President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981, by a man named John Hinckley Jr., who fired six shots at Reagan in a matter of seconds.

One of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest, seriously wounding him. Three other people were also hit, including Press Secretary James Brady, a police officer and a Secret Service agent.

Secret Service agents pushed Reagan into the car and rushed him to George Washington University hospital, where he underwent surgery and survived.

Hinckley was arrested at the scene and was later found not guilty by reason of insanity.

An emotional moment unfolded backstage at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as attendees awaited more information about the incident.

Erika Kirk was seen running through the backstage area in tears, saying, “I just want to go home,” according to a pool report.

Her late husband, Charlie Kirk, was murdered last year while touring for Turning Point USA on the Utah Valley University campus.

She was escorted out of the building through a rear exit as guests were being held and security assessed the situation.

Reactions from congressional lawmakers poured in Saturday night following a security scare at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said he was at the event and was pulled into a secure room by Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.

“I am at the #WHCD,” Moskowitz wrote in a post on X. “I want to thank law enforcement, Capitol Police. I personally want to thank Steve Scalise, who grabbed me into a secure room.”

Scalise was shot in the hip by a gunman during a morning practice for the Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2017.

President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a statement in the White House briefing room following the shooting incident that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the update on X as Secret Service continues to assess the situation.

The president’s remarks are expected in approximately 30 minutes, or 10:15 p.m. Eastern Time.