Azerbaijani president condemns Washington shooting incident

The shooting that occurred during a White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington has deeply shocked me, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a post on his X account.

“Such acts of violence are unacceptable and must be firmly condemned. Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and all attendees are safe. Wishing them continued safety and well-being,” the head of state emphasised.

Deeply disturbed by the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. Such acts of violence are unacceptable and must be firmly condemned.

Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and all attendees are safe. Wishing them continued safety and…

— Ilham Aliyev (@presidentaz) April 26, 2026

The incident took place during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, a prominent annual political and media gathering attended by senior U.S. officials.

Gunfire erupted near the hotel’s main security screening area, sparking panic inside the venue and prompting the immediate evacuation of President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other officials in attendance.

Security forces intervened within minutes, detaining at least one suspect. Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack.

By Jeyhun Aghazada