From Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump: How Washington Hilton hotel became scene of panic once again

More than four decades after the then–US President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt at the Washington Hilton hotel, a similar scene of panic unfolded at the same venue on Saturday night.The venue for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the Washington Hilton, is sometimes colloquially referred to by locals as the “Hinckley Hilton,” a reference to the March 30, 1981, shooting of Reagan. During that incident, John Hinckley Jr fired six shots at Reagan in a matter of seconds.

One of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Ronald Reagan in the chest, leaving him seriously wounded. Three others were also injured, including Press Secretary James Brady, a police officer, and a Secret Service agent.Secret Service agents quickly forced Reagan into the vehicle and transported him to George Washington University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and survived, as cited by Fox News.John Hinckley Jr was arrested at the scene and was later found not guilty by reason of insanity.On Saturday night, US president Donald Trump was rushed to safety after gunshots were reported during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, triggering panic inside the venue and a swift, large-scale security response.Seated at the main table, Trump appeared startled as the shots rang out, while First Lady Melania Trump was visibly shaken.Moments after what sounded like gunshots, cries of “Stay down!” and “Get down!” rang out as guests—including journalists, officials from the Trump administration, and members of the Cabinet—took cover.In the ensuing chaos, United States Secret Service agents, with weapons drawn, quickly surrounded Donald Trump and escorted him off the stage through a back curtain as attendees crouched in shock.The music abruptly stopped, and the ballroom of the Washington Hilton fell silent as agents moved through tables and across the floor, securing the area.In a post on Truth Social following the incident, Trump described it as “quite an evening” and commended security agencies for doing a “fantastic job.” He further stated that the shooter had been apprehended and added that “the show must go on.”The Washington Hilton, longtime host of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, typically remains open to the public during the event, allowing regular guests to move through the hotel as usual.Security efforts are generally concentrated on the ballroom, rather than the entire property, with limited screening for those not attending the dinner itself.In past years, this arrangement has occasionally created opportunities for disruptions in public areas such as the lobby, including protests where individuals unfurled banners or staged demonstrations before being removed by security.