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President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and several other international leaders have expressed relief after it was confirmed that US President Donald Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees were safe following a shooting incident connected to the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC.
According to reports, gunfire erupted near the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual political media event was being held. The incident triggered an immediate security response, with officials evacuating President Trump, his wife, US Vice President JD Vance, and other senior figures from the area as a precaution.
Law enforcement authorities later apprehended the suspected shooter.
The man fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump was the target of the attack, though he told reporters he believed that he was. The president has survived two previous attempts on his life since 2024, a period of deepening political polarisation in the United States.
In a post on X, President Zardari's office condemned the shooting, calling it a "heinous act of terrorism," while expressing relief that President Trump and the First Lady were unharmed.
"President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, expressed relief that President Trump & the First Lady are safe, and termed the incident a heinous act of terrorism."
PM Shehbaz said he was "deeply shocked" by the incident and expressed relief over the safety of all attendees, adding prayers for continued safety and well-being.
"Deeply shocked by the disturbing shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., a short while ago," he posted on X.
"Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with him, and I wish him continued safety and well-being."
India PM Narendra Modi also expressed relief, stating that violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.
"Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel," Modi wrote on social media.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the incident terrifying and stressed that violence can never be tolerated anywhere in the world.
I am relieved to hear that President Trump is safe following the terrifying gunfire. Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum echoed similar sentiments, welcoming the news that President Trump and his wife are safe, and emphasizing that violence should never be the answer.
"It's great that President Trump and his wife are doing well after the recent events. We send our respect. Violence should never be the way."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed relief upon learning that all attendees were safe. "We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action," he stated.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents´ Dinner in Washington overnight."
"Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," Starmer wrote on X on Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the incident was "unacceptable". "Violence has no place in a democracy," he said on X. "I extend my full support to Donald Trump."
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife Sara "were shocked by the attempted assassination" of Trump.
"We are relieved that the President and the First Lady are safe and strong," Netanyahu wrote on X.
"We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action."
Canadian PM Mark Carney said he was "relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe."
"Political violence has no place in any democracy and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event," Carney wrote on X.
Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez condemned what he called "the attack that took place tonight against President (Trump)."
"Violence is never the answer. Humanity will only move forward through democracy, coexistence, and peace," Sanchez wrote on X.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that "political violence has no place in a democracy".
Kallas said she was "relieved" there were no casualties, adding: "An event meant to honour a free press should never become a scene of fear."
