‘Violence is never the answer’: world leaders react to Washington shooting at Trump event

Donald Trump and the CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang at the dinner in Washington DC prior to the attack. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/ReutersView image in fullscreenDonald Trump and the CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang at the dinner in Washington DC prior to the attack. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/ReutersWhite House correspondents' dinner shooting‘Violence is never the answer’: world leaders react to Washington shooting at Trump eventLeaders of Canada, Mexico and UK denounce political violence and express thanks Donald Trump and guests are unharmed White House correspondents’ dinner shooting – latest updates Full report: Suspect in custody after Trump evacuated in shooting incident Ben Smee and Kate ConnollySun 26 Apr 2026 13.52 EDTFirst published on Sun 26 Apr 2026 01.14 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleLeaders from around the world have condemned the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night as an act of “political violence” and expressed relief that Donald Trump, officials and journalists were unharmed.The president and his wife, Melania, as well as members of the US cabinet, were evacuated from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday after gunshots were heard from the hotel lobby.Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, sent a message of solidarity to Trump after the incident, according to his chief secretary, Darren Jones. “These are remarkable scenes. The prime minister has, this morning, sent a message to the president of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place,” Jones told Sky News.He added that with the incident coming just two days before a visit to the US by King Charles and Queen Camilla, “as you would imagine … our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place”.View image in fullscreenFBI agents at the Washington Hilton shortly after shots were fired during the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night. Photograph: Alex Wroblewski/AFP/Getty ImagesIn a post on X overnight, Starmer said he was shocked by the incident. “Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” he wrote. “It is a huge relief that POTUS [the president of the US], the first lady and all those attending are safe.”Buckingham Palace said King Charles was “greatly relieved” the Trumps and other guests were unharmed.The French president, Emmanuel Macron, wrote on X on Sunday morning: “The armed attack targeting the president of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy. I extend my full support to Donald Trump.”Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, reiterated the message that “violence has no place in a democracy”. Writing on X, he said: “We decide by majorities, not by the gun.” He said he was “relieved that President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and all those present are safe.”The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, whose government had been locked in tense trade talks with the US, posted: “I am relieved that the president, the first lady, and all guests are safe following reports of gunfire at the White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington tonight. Political violence has no place in any democracy and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event.”View image in fullscreenGuest at the dinner took cover after shots were fired. Photograph: Chip…

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