CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Corrects Her Report That Shooter at White House Correspondents’ Dinner Was Killed
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins went live on air and said a shooter had been “confirmed dead” just moments after Donald Trump was suddenly rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday night. Not long after, she corrected herself and said that information was not accurate.
Collins called into CNN from inside the event, where things were tense and confusing. She was on her phone while standing next to Education Secretary Linda McMahon as she tried to explain what was happening.
She said that security near her had told them there was a shooter somewhere in the lobby of the Hilton hotel, but no one knew the exact location. She added that they had been told the shooter was dead, but made it clear that this information had not been confirmed and was coming from people around them.
Just before saying that, Collins had already warned viewers that nothing was verified yet and that people at her table were simply listening to updates from nearby security.
She also reported that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were quickly taken off the stage, along with Vice President JD Vance, only minutes after the event began. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was also rushed away, even though she is close to giving birth.
About 15 minutes later, a report from Fox News gave a different update. Host Aishah Hasnie said the suspect had actually been caught by Secret Service. Collins later confirmed this, saying Trump had told reporters the shooter was “apprehended,” meaning taken into custody.
Other journalists at the event described hearing gunshots. NewsNation host Katie Pavlich said she heard about five shots and that people immediately dropped to the floor. Secret Service agents quickly removed the president and began searching the room, which was packed with thousands of people.
CNN reporter Manu Raju also said he clearly heard gunshots.
This incident happened during Trump’s first appearance at the event since becoming president again. It also comes after several past assassination attempts against him, including a 2024 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was injured and a firefighter named Corey Comperatore lost his life.
Around 30 minutes after Trump was taken off stage, White House Correspondents’ Association president Weijia Jiang told the audience that the event would continue later that night.
