White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made an eerily accurate comment on the red carpet of the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night, which has since gone viral. Leavitt said there would be “some shots fired tonight,” shortly before gunfire erupted at the event. Leavitt later condemned the incident on her X account.
Karoline Leavitt’s ‘Shots fired’ comment goes viral
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made a comment that accidentally turned out to be true at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
On the red carpet of the event, Leavitt said, “It will be funny. It will be entertaining. There will be some shots fired tonight in the room (via Fox News).” She added, “Everyone should tune in, it’s gonna be really great. I’m looking forward to hearing it.”
Shortly after, real gunfire erupted at the event. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other high-level cabinet officials were quickly evacuated from the venue, and no one was hurt. Trump later said in a press conference that one of the officers was shot, but his bulletproof vest saved him.
An armed suspect, Cole Allen, has been accused of charging through a security checkpoint at the dinner and firing. Allen was taken to a local hospital and is expected to appear in federal court on Monday, April 27, 2026.
While the investigation around the shooting continues, Leavitt took to her X account to share her thoughts on the incident.
“What was supposed to be a fun night at the @WHCA dinner with President Trump delivering jokes and celebrating free speech was hijacked by a depraved crazy person who sought to assassinate the President and kill as many top Trump administration officials as possible,” Leavitt wrote, “I was with President Trump and the First Lady back stage after we were quickly ushered to safety by Secret Service.”
She continued, “President Trump was truly fearless, but as he said last night, this political violence needs to end. Thank you to law enforcement for keeping all of us safe, including the brave agent who took a bullet to the chest and immediately moved to neutralize the shooter.” Leavitt concluded, “Pray for our country.”
Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on Mandatory.
