Liz Landers, PBS NewsHour's White House correspondent, and Lisa Desjardins, the outlet's congressional correspondent, were among those attending Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner when shots were fired inside the venue. Both correspondents joined host Geoff Bennett to describe what they witnessed as chaos unfolded around them during the event.
The shooting at the annual gathering of journalists, officials, and politicians occurred as attendees were gathered for the dinner at a Washington hotel. Landers covers the Trump administration for PBS NewsHour, while Desjardins reports from Capitol Hill on congressional matters.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican lawmakers praised the swift response from law enforcement. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on social media that he was 'grateful for the quick action of officers who prevented what could have been a much worse outcome.' Senator John Cornyn of Texas, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for patience as investigators work to determine the shooter's motive.
Conservative commentators argued the incident highlighted broader concerns about security in the nation's capital. Fox News host Sean Hannity said on his program that 'Washington has become a target, and we need to ensure our law enforcement has every tool available to protect public figures.' The Heritage Foundation released a statement calling for increased funding for Capitol Police and federal protective services.
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Democrats who attended the dinner or later received briefings expressed alarm at the security breach. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the chamber's No. 2 Democrat, said in a statement that the shooting was 'a stark reminder of the vulnerability we face even at events meant to celebrate journalism.' Senator Tammy Duckworth of Minnesota called for an immediate review of Secret Service protocols for protective details at large public gatherings.
Progressive advocacy groups that had planned protests outside the venue shifted their focus Sunday to calling for increased security funding for federal protective services. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee issued a statement saying, 'Journalists and public servants should be able to gather without fear of violence.'
What the Numbers Show
The White House Correspondents' Dinner brings together approximately 3,000 guests annually, including members of Congress, administration officials, journalists, and celebrities. This year's event marked the first shooting at the dinner in its history, which dates back to 1921. Capitol Police confirmed Sunday that one person was killed and two others were wounded before officers subdued the suspect.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran told reporters that agents engaged the shooter within approximately 90 seconds of the first reports of gunfire. The agency said it had no prior intelligence suggesting a threat to the event. Law enforcement officials have not released the identity of the shooter pending notification of family members and ongoing investigation.
The Bottom Line
The shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner marks an unprecedented security breach at one of Washington's most prominent annual gatherings. Landers and Desjardins, both eyewitnesses to the chaos, provided initial on-the-ground accounts in their interview with PBS NewsHour, though full details of what transpired remained under investigation as of Sunday evening.
The incident has prompted immediate calls for review of security protocols at high-profile events in Washington. Capitol Police, the FBI, and the Secret Service are jointly investigating the shooting. Officials said they expect to release more information about the victim and the circumstances leading up to the gunfire within the next 24 hours.