US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) addressed reporters at the White House after he and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated from a White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
In his address, Trump revealed that the shooter was armed with multiple weapons and “shot from very close distance.” Calling the incident “unexpected,” Trump said the shooting suspect was a ‘would-be assassin.’
Follow for live updates on Trump shooting incident
Talking about the location, Trump said that it was not a “particularly secure building.” The man charged past a security checkpoint, Trump told a press briefing, adding: “One officer was shot but saved by the fact that he was wearing a, obviously, a very good bulletproof vest.”
Top points
Very unexpected: Trump began his address by saying that the incident was ‘very unexpected’, adding that the secret services and law enforcement agencies did an “incredible job.” Calling the dinner an event of “freedom of speech,” Trump asserted that it was meant to bring together members of both parties and the members of the press and “in a way it did.”
The shooter had multiple weapons: Trump said that the man charged at a security checkpoint and was “armed with multiple weapons.” The shooter was taken down by “some very brave members of the Secret Service,” Trump said.
Also read: 5-8 shots, shooter had ‘multiple’ arms at Trumps press dinner event: What we know so far
The officer shot is in great shape now: US President also revealed that a Secret Service agent was also shot in the incident from “a very close distance,” but was saved since he was wearing a bulletproof vest. “I just spoke to the officer, and he is in great shape. He has very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him,” Trump told the press.
Not particularly secure building: Talking about the location of the event, Trump said that the authorities looked at the security conditions, calling it “not a particularly secure building.” Trump also compared it with the Ballroom at White House that his administration is pushing for, stating that the ballroom will be “much larger, drone-proof and with bulletproof glass. “That’s why secret service are demanding it,” he added.
Not the first time: Trump also referenced the past attacks on him, including the one in Pennsylvania and in Palm Beach, Florida. “This is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin, who sought to kill,” Trump said in his address.
Calls for resolving conflict: In light of the shooting event, Trump urged all Americans to resolve their conflicts peacefully. He added that people from opposing ideologies, including “republicans democrats independents conservatives liberals and Progressives,” came together today with a “tremendous amount of love.”
Also read: Was White House press dinner shooting linked to Iran war? Trump responds
Suspect captured: Trump revealed that the man had been captured, and the law enforcement agencies are heading to his apartment in California. “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” Trump, said, adding, “they seem to think he was a lone wolf.”
We’ll do it again: Following the incident, Trump said that he told the representatives of the event that they will organise this again within the next 30 days. “We’ll do it bigger and better and even nicer.”
🚨 BREAKING: Watch the full clip here ➤
