King Charles has voiced profound relief following gunshots that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were swiftly evacuated from the stage. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, just ahead of the monarch’s state visit to the United States scheduled for April 27 to 30, 2026.
Buckingham Palace Addresses the Incident
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson issued a statement on April 26 confirming that His Majesty remains updated on all developments. The spokesperson noted: “His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady and all guests have been unharmed.”
Discussions continue with U.S. counterparts and respective teams to assess any potential effects on the visit’s operational plans. “As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the Visit,” the spokesperson added.
Private Outreach to the Trumps
The King and Queen have reached out privately to President Trump and First Lady Melania, extending sympathies to those impacted by the events and thanking security personnel for their swift actions in averting further injuries.
