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

Leaders of Canada, Mexico and UK denounce political violence and express thanks Donald Trump and guests are unharmed

Leaders 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”.

In 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.”

The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said it was “good that President Trump and his wife are safe following the recent events”. She added: “We send them our respect. Violence must never be the way.”

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he was pleased to hear all attenders were safe. “We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action,” he said in a statement.

The British ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, and some embassy officials were in attendance at the dinner. Turner said on X that he and others were “grateful for the swift and professional response of the Secret Service”. He added: “We are thankful that the president and those in attendance were unharmed and our best wishes are with the injured officer.”

An officer who was struck while wearing a bulletproof vest was discharged from hospital on Sunday morning. A suspect in the shooting is in custody.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, expressed her relief that the president and his entourage had not been injured. She posted on X: “Political violence has no place in a democracy. An event meant to honour a free press should never become a scene of fear.” She wished the injured officer a swift recovery.

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the Spanish people condemned the attack. He wrote on X: “Violence is never the answer. Humanity will only move forward through democracy, coexistence and peace.”

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, wrote in a post that there was no place for political hatred. Expressing her condolences to Trump and all the attenders of the dinner, she said: “No political hatred should find a place in our democracies. We will not allow fanaticism to poison the spaces of free debate and information.”

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, wrote on X: “Relieved to hear that Donald Trump and Melania Trump and everyone attending the White House correspondents’ dinner are safe. Violence has no place in politics, ever. With thanks to the swift action of the police and responders for ensuring the safety of the guests.”

Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, wrote that he was “deeply shocked by the disturbing shooting incident”. He added in his post on X: “Relieved to know that President Trump, the first lady, and other attendees are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with him, and I wish him continued safety and wellbeing.”

Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, said he was “relieved to learn that President Trump, the first lady and vice-president are safe and unharmed”. Modi wrote on X: “I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and wellbeing. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.”

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he and his wife, Sara, were “shocked by the attempted assassination” of Trump. “We are relieved that the president and the first lady are safe and strong,” he wrote on X. “We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action.”

Jeffery Carroll, the DC police chief, said investigators believed the suspect fired a shot and was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. He said the suspect was believed to have been a guest at the hotel.

Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington DC, said at a press conference on Saturday night that a sole gunman rushed at the Secret Service in the lobby of the hotel. She said there was no reason to believe that anyone else was involved in the incident.

The suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.