Tamara Keith

There were several tense minutes as the president, vice president, and members of the cabinet were quickly evacuated from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, while more than 2,000 other guests in the packed room took cover.

It turns out the gunfire was actually one floor above the ballroom.

Law enforcement officials say the alleged assailant ran through a security checkpoint trying to reach the stairs down to the ballroom before being subdued.

The annual dinner has long been held at the Washington Hilton, which has unique security features to protect presidents.

They were added after President Reagan was shot outside of the hotel in 1981.

Tamara Keith, NPR News.

In the hours after the dinner, Trump hit a note of unity.

Then Sunday, in an interview with 60 Minutes, he was asked about political violence in America and what he as president can do to change the trajectory in the country.

Of the alleged attacker, Trump said he was radicalized and, quote, probably a pretty sick guy.

Tamara Keith, NPR News.

There was a muffled noise that sounded like a rapid burst of gunfire.

Then Secret Service agents came running into the room from all angles.

The president and vice president were pulled from the stage.

Everyone took cover.

This is a room with 2,600 people.

It was tense and scary as security details climbed over tables and chairs searching for people who are in the presidential line of succession.

What we know now is that the gunman was actually one floor above the ballroom.

He ran through a security checkpoint headed for the stairs that lead down to the ballroom, but he was tackled before he got there.

The acting Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the incident this way Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press.

This dinner has long been held at the Washington Hilton, which has a special entrance for the president and a secure holding room behind the stage.