Trump, first lady evacuated after security incident at Washington dinner

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated Saturday night from the annual White House Correspondents' dinner in Washington, DC, after a security-related incident at the event.

Trump and top-level administration officials seated by him at the head table were escorted out by Secret Service agents as part of heightened security measures, while other guests remained inside the Washington Hilton ballroom.

The president and Vice President JD Vance were later reported to be "safe and secure."

Witnesses reported hearing loud noises during the event.

“We were sitting here, and we just heard a loud ‘pop, pop, pop.’ Everybody just went under the table, and we didn’t know what was happening,” broadcaster NewsNation quoted its White House correspondent Kellie Meyer as saying.

The head table was rushed off the stage as part of security measures, while other guests remained inside the ballroom.

Meyer said she observed Cabinet members being escorted out of the venue.

Further details were not immediately available regarding the nature of the incident or any injuries.

Host Weija Jiang later informed guests that the event would resume at a later time.