AZE.US
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev condemned the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., after a security incident disrupted one of the most closely watched political and media events in the United States.
In a post on X, Aliyev said he was “deeply disturbed” by the shooting and added that “such acts of violence are unacceptable and must be firmly condemned.” He also said he was relieved that President Donald Trump, the first lady and all attendees were safe, wishing them continued safety and well-being.
Deeply disturbed by the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. Such acts of violence are unacceptable and must be firmly condemned.
Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and all attendees are safe. Wishing them continued safety and…
— Ilham Aliyev (@presidentaz) April 26, 2026
The incident took place at the Washington Hilton, where the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was being held. According to AP and Reuters, shots were fired near the security screening area, prompting the Secret Service to move quickly to protect Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other senior officials attending the event.
Reuters reported that a man armed with a shotgun tried to breach security and fired at a Secret Service agent. The agent was not seriously injured because of protective gear, and the suspect was taken into custody. AP identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen of California and said federal and local authorities were investigating the case.
Trump, the first lady and other senior officials were not injured. Reuters said guests at the dinner took cover after shots were heard, while security teams moved several high-level officials out of danger. The dinner was eventually canceled, with officials later saying the event could be rescheduled under tighter security.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner traditionally brings together U.S. presidents, senior administration officials, journalists and public figures. This year’s gathering was interrupted by an incident that immediately drew international attention because of Trump’s presence and the high-profile nature of the event.
Aliyev’s statement placed Azerbaijan among the governments reacting to the Washington shooting with a message of condemnation and support for the U.S. leadership. His wording focused on two points: rejection of political violence and relief that the incident did not lead to casualties among Trump, the first lady or the invited guests.
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