Following a shooting at a White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed solidarity with the U.S. and President Trump.
Attack and Evacuation at White House Dinner
Donald Trump was evacuated by the Secret Service during a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday evening. First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other cabinet members were also evacuated.
The assailant, armed with a shotgun, pistol, and knives, opened fire in the hotel lobby and was apprehended before reaching the gala. A Secret Service agent was injured during the incident.
International Expressions of Solidarity
Leaders from across Europe and the world have conveyed their solidarity with President Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the armed attack as unacceptable and pledged full support.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez denounced the attack and emphasized that violence is never a solution, advocating for democracy, coexistence, and peace. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed “full solidarity and deepest closeness” to Trump and those present at the gala, condemning political hatred.
Reactions from Global Leaders
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the incident. Netanyahu wished the injured Secret Service agent a speedy recovery, while Abbas rejected violence in all forms.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that political violence has no place in a democracy. Authorities in Japan and India, along with the UAE’s Foreign Ministry, also condemned the shooting.
Von der Leyen and Trump Speak
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke with President Trump by phone to express her solidarity. Leaders from Ukraine and the European Union also condemned the shooting.
Trump Links Attack to Ballroom Project
Following the evacuation, Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting that the incident would not have occurred in a ballroom he is building at the White House, which he claims will have extensive security features.
He criticized a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, challenging the ballroom’s construction, and called the plaintiff “a dog walker.” Trump maintains the ballroom will include bunkers, a hospital, and military installations, making it resistant to air attacks. A court has halted construction.
Republican Support for Ballroom Project Grows
According to Axios, Republicans are uniting in support of the ballroom project following the attack. The project is estimated to cost $400 million.
