‘Shots fired’ indeed: Karoline Leavitt’s bizarre remark minutes before White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting throws her into infamy

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made an eccentric remark that may sound bizarre to some and drew sharp attention online. Before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was going smoothly without any gunshot scare, she reportedly said “shots fired” on Saturday night, April 25 and the internet is speaking out.

US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, several Cabinet members, and other senior White House officials were rushed out of the event at the Washington Hilton after gunfire disrupted the high-profile annual event.

Moments before the chaos unfolded, Leavitt, who is expecting her second child, had been speaking to reporters about Trump’s planned speech for the evening and described it as vintage Trump.


“I will tell you this speech tonight will be classic Donald J. Trump. It’ll be funny. It’ll be entertaining,” Leavitt said in the now-viral video.

“There will be some shots fired tonight.” “Everyone should tune in. It’s going to be really great.”

Within no time, her choice of words brought reactions on social media after the actual shooting incident occurred.

Reacting to the post, one user wrote, “There were ‘shots fired’ indeed. How odd.” Another posted, “This aged oddly.” Criticising her choice of words, one user went further, “She ordered the hit”


Trump had been seated at the dais alongside Melania and CBS reporter and White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang when the incident unfolded minutes later.

According to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, an individual connected to the “shooting incident” near the main screening area at the event had been apprehended. “The president and first lady are safe along with all protectees,” he said. “The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”


The Washington Hilton, where the dinner was held, is also the same hotel where John Hinckley attempted to assassinate former President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Following the incident, Trump posted on Truth Social and said he wanted the event to continue while praising law enforcement for their quick response.

Also Read: White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting revives haunting memories of Ronald Reagan’s attempted assassination at same hotel over 40 years ago; what happened then

“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,” he wrote. “Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”

In addition to Trump and Leavitt, several top officials were present at the annual gathering, including First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.