Zachary Levi talks 'commotion' at White House Correspondents' dinner as shots fired

April 26, 2026 Alpha World
Zachary Levi talks 'commotion' at White House Correspondents' dinner as shots fired

Actor Zachary Levi was among the guests at theWhite House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 25 when shots broke out in theWashington Hilton hotel.

USA TODAY

"We were sitting at the table, and there was some loud banging that definitely caught my attention," he said. "In the back of my head I kind of jokingly thought that kind of sounds like gun shots."

"The next thing we saw, everybody started to turn and drop, there was commotion," he added. Guests hid under tables as the Secret Service raced in to secure the safety of "anyone of import," Levi said, including any legislators and cabinet members. "Then things seemed to calm down."

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.

When early word came that the dinner would continue, Levi seemed incredulous. "If it was an actually active live shooting I don't know why we'd be continuing with dinner."

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Levi was a guest of USA TODAY at the dinner, and was seated with SpeakerMike Johnsonand his wife, who were removed safely from the room.

<p style=Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Attendees hide under tables after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service agents after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Katie Miller and Stephen Miller are escorted 1after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. A Secret Service agent takes cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is escorted after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. People react after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents moving to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Loud bangs were heard as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner. Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton in the middle of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after loud bangs were heard, in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (C) is escorted out of a safe room after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. Agents escort people out of the Washington Hilton after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned from in the past. People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate the building after a shooting inside, on April 25, 2026. Agents escort people after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is escorted by federal agents after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned from in the past. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is escorted by federal agents after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. An agent draws his gun after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. A Secret Service officer directs people outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. Guests walk away from the Washington Hilton amid a heavy police presence after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Loud bangs were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner. Attendees exit the venue after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. FBI agents stand outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on April 25 night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. Tactical teams with guns drawn took position on the stage where Trump had been sitting before he was evacuated. A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) stands outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Marshalls walk through the lobby of the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. FBI Director Kash Patel (C) walks past after shots were reportedly fired during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. The scene from outside the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate after a shooting inside on, April 25, 2026. The scene from outside the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate after a shooting inside, on April 25, 2026.

Trump officials evacuate White House press dinner amid reported shooting

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire duringthe annual White House Correspondents' Association dinnerin Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.Trumpand first ladyMelania Trumpwere evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

The dinner portion of the event had just begun, with workers trying to navigate the crowded room to clear the salad plates from the first course.

Secret Service later announced in apost on Xthat all of their protectees, including PresidentDonald Trumpand First LadyMelania Trump, were safe.

One individual is in custody, and the Secret Service is investigating the incident, which took place near the main magnetometer screening area at the dinner.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Zachary Levi at White House Correspondents' dinner when shots rang out

 

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