Statement | Violence at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner

We are closely monitoring the situation following the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C. We are relieved that no attendees were injured and that the individual involved is in custody. We are grateful for the swift response of the Secret Service and other first responders.

Until more information becomes available, it is critical that we do not jump to conclusions or speculate about motive. In moments like this, misinformation can spread quickly and increase the risk of further harm.

What we do know is clear: violence has no place in our public life. It does nothing to strengthen our communities or the country we want to build together.

We must also ensure that incidents like this are not used to justify actions that undermine our core rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to gather peacefully. The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner exists to celebrate these very freedoms.