US President Donald Trump has told reporters he "fought like hell" to stay at the White House correspondents' dinner after several shots were fired outside of the event.

Trump promised the gathering would be rescheduled to a later date while vowing to not "let anybody take over our society".

"We're not gonna cancel things because we can't do that," Trump said following the incident.

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Trump and Vice President JD Vance were among those evacuated after witnesses reported hearing five to eight shots ring out.

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall as hundreds of guests ducked for cover under tables.

"We wanted to stay tonight, I will tell you, I fought like hell to stay, but it was protocol," Trump said.

"They said 'please sir', because there was a lot of action going on.

"They didn't know, could there be, probably a lone shooter but we'll find out, we'll find out very quickly.

"They have it very well under control."

The US President's comments echo his response to his attempted assassination at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024.

Trump was told to get down when shots were heard at the event attended by about 50,000 people.

Once he was able to get to his feet, he pumped his fist in the air and appeared to mouth the word "Fight" twice, prompting loud cheers and then chants of "USA. USA. USA."

CNN reports the correspondents' dinner shooting suspect is 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance in Southern California.

"The man has been captured, they're going to his apartment," Trump said.

"He's a very sick person and we don't want things like this to happen again."

The news outlet reports Allen is a teacher and video game developer, citing public records.

A LinkedIn profile matching Allen's name and photo described him as a part-time teacher at test preparation and tutoring company C2 Education.

C2 named Allen the company's "teacher of the month" in December 2024, according to social media posts from the company.

WHO'S WHO: Who was in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner?

CNN contacted the education company for comment but was unable to reach a spokesperson.

Allen is expected to be charged with shooting and weapons possession-related offences, Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Loud sounds resembling gunshots could be heard in CNN vision from inside the dining hall, followed by screams as attendees scrambled for cover.

The shooting happened outside the ballroom on an upper floor near the security screening area of the lobby, where the restrooms are located.

"Out of the way, sir!" someone yelled. Others yelled to duck.

Several US Secret Service agents yelled, "shots fired".

Trump later told reporters the reaction time of authorities was "great".

He also posted an image without a caption, of a man being held on a carpeted floor.

"They seem to think he was a lone wolf, and I feel that too," he told reporters.

Trump and all other guests were not physically harmed, but one Secret Service officer was shot.

WATCH HERE: CCTV of the moment alleged gunman bursts into hotel

The bullet struck the office's bulletproof vest and they were taken to hospital.

"I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," Trump said.

Police said they're examining the scene and speaking to witnesses.

A motive for the shooting is yet to be established.

In posts to Trump's Truth Social page, the alleged gunman was pictured handcuffed on the carpeted floor of the Hilton Hotel.

Other members of Trump's Cabinet who were also in attendance were also rushed out.

Trump released a statement after he was evacuated from the ballroom, insisting he wished to return to the dinner.

In a post to his Truth Social platform, Trump said Secret Service and police officers did a fantastic job on "quite an evening".

"They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we "LET THE SHOW GO ON" but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement," he said.

"They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again."

The dinner was later cancelled and will be rescheduled over the next 30 days, Trump said.

Veteran reporter gives eye-witness account

Veteran CNN reporter Wolf Blitzer said he was just a few feet away from the gunman when he opened fire.

Wolf Blitzer had just left the men's restroom on an upper floor outside the ballroom at the Hilton Hotel when he saw a man with "a very, very serious weapon."

"All of a sudden I heard these loud, very loud, very scary gunshots right near me. Next thing I knew, a police officer threw me to the ground and was on top of me," Blitzer said.

"I didn't see all the details, but I did see the gunman on the ground after he started shooting," Blitzer told CNN.

The officers took him back in the the men's restroom where about 15 other men were also taking shelter.

The CNN anchor said the gunman was just "a few feet away" from him when the gunfire began.

"I did see the gunman on the ground after he started shooting. Police officers threw him to the ground but he was still shooting. And I could hear the shots going off," Blizter said, adding that there were a lot of police there to secure him quickly.

Not a "particularly secure building", Trump admits

Generally, the Hilton hotel, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Security has typically been focused on the ballroom, rather than the hotel at large, with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself.

In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations.

Trump admitted it's not a "particularly secure building", adding that's why he "needs the ballroom" he's trying to build at the White House.

"Today we need levels of security that probably nobody's ever seen before."

Trump attended the high-profile dinner for the first time as president, after skipping the event last year and during his first term in office.

The correspondents' dinner gathers politicians and journalists on the last Saturday in April to celebrate the First Amendment and the role of a free press.

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Vision of the moment Donald Trump was rushed to safety and the would-be shooter stormed past security was caught on video and shared as the episode unfolded.

Many of the 2600 guests were forced to duck under tables after shots were fired at the annual event held at the Washington Hilton.

In the vision posted to the US President's Truth Social page, the alleged shooter rushed past security towards the main ballroom of the Washington Hilton.

LIVE UPDATES: 'Loud sounds': Trump rushed to safety after shots fired

The man appeared to initially startle several security guards as he ran past the metal detectors.

Within a few seconds, guards had drawn their guns and started to chase the suspect.

As high-profile attendees heard the start of the commotion, they appeared to be shocked and confused.

The attendees had been seated for a short time when the Secret Service flooded the room and yelled for people to "get down" and "stay down".

READ MORE: Who was in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner?

Several US Secret Service agents yelled, "shots fired".

President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and First Lady Melania Trump rushed off the stage as authorities swarmed the banquet hall.

Reuters reported that shortly before being escorted off the stage, Melania Trump appeared to react to something in the crowd and had a concerned look on her face.

As guests hid under their tables, heavy-armed guards rushed to the front of the stage, some with their weapons drawn as they scanned the crowd.

The annual event has since been cancelled.

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Four shearers face more than 20 animal welfare charges from the ministry.

Many Australians are rethinking traditional family life due to rising costs, changes in rental laws, and a desire for independence.

And that is resulting in the number of dogs per household overtaking the number of kids in a cluster of suburbs, new research shows.

For pet parents, factoring animals into daily plans is nothing new.

But local government data and business trends indicate that caring for pets now occupies a greater share of their owners' lives.

If you want a sense of just how much things have changed, look no further than Sydney's Inner West – where the average household now boasts more dogs than children.

Close to 50,000 dogs are microchipped across the local government area, up from about 43,200 in 2023 following a pandemic-era lift.

Marrickville leads with around 4300, followed by Leichhardt and Balmain.

To keep pace with surging demand, Marrickville daycare centre Kip Happy Stays has rolled out additional services.

One of their trainers, Mandi Wright, said this is driven by a growing number of residents treating dogs "as part of the family."

"While we've traditionally offered boarding at our larger facilities in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley, this expansion makes it much easier for Inner West pet owners to access high-quality care locally."

Demand for off-leash space is also high – Inner West Council maintains 44 such areas, among the most in Sydney, with more in the pipeline.

To support the growing pet population, a council spokesperson revealed that a dedicated team has been introduced to handle requests for microchipping, registrations, complaints, and park patrols.

Meanwhile, changes to rental laws have lowered barriers to pet ownership for many – a pattern of note in the Inner West, where over 40 per cent of residents rent.

The pet parent conversation is not confined to a single neighbourhood.

In Peakhurst, 62-year-old Rosie finds her days filled with "unconditional affection" from her kelpie, Roxy, rather than children.

"Having a pet allows me to nurture and care for another being while still maintaining independence in my personal, career, and lifestyle choices. It felt like the right balance for where I am in life."

While having a pet isn't cheap, Rosie noted that the costs are often more predictable than those of raising children.

Still, this doesn't mean that one subset of parents is financially better off.

One Inner West local spends close to $10,000 a year on daycare alone to work full-time at her office job.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, adopted her French bulldog, Trunks, during the pandemic.

She told nine.com.au that, remarkably, it’s often parents themselves who are the most supportive of her decision to be kid-free.

"Overall, I do believe attitudes are becoming more accepting of having pets instead of children," she said.

Trunks' mum said that although day-to-day costs affect everyone, she sees them as just one part of a broader equation when deciding whether to have kids.

"I think more people would have children if homes weren't 10 times their salary, if childcare were completely free or more heavily subsidised, and if there was easy, uncapped and free access to specialised services pre and post birth."

Ultimately, deciding who makes up your family (child or canine) comes down to the individual, Rosie believes.

"There's no one-size-fits-all answer – both paths come with rewards and trade-offs. What matters most is choosing a lifestyle that aligns with your priorities, values, and vision for your future."

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A teenager has been charged after a group armed with a large knife were allegedly spotted casing out cars and homes across Queensland's south-east in a stolen Mustang.

CCTV shows a hooded thief with a large knife getting out of the blue Mustang and trying to start an unlocked car in the driveway of a home on the Gold Coast yesterday morning.

Police allege that was one of several unsuccessful attempted car thefts during a 20-hour spree.

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The car was also allegedly sighted in a number of suburbs from Mango Hill, north of Brisbane, down to Ormeau Hill, Pacific Pines and Southport on the Gold Coast.

The Mustang was stolen from a home in Minyama, on the Sunshine Coast, about 11pm on Friday, after the keys to the car were stolen from inside the home, police allege.

The car made its way back up to Logan from the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon, where PolAir spotted it travelling from the Gateway Motorway to the Logan Motorway about 5.30pm yesterday.

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Police laid out stop sticks in Underwood about 7.05pm and the Mustang was abandoned in a nearby carpark off Kingston Road.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested a short time later at a home in Woodridge.

He has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and will appear before the Beenleigh Childrens Court tomorrow.

Nobody else has been arrested in relation to the incident. Investigations are ongoing.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

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