Tamara Keith

Then security personnel, including many heavily armed security personnel, rushed in, tactical team getting the president out, the vice president and many members of the cabinet, as well as the Speaker of the House.

We were inside the ballroom in the basement of the Washington Hilton.

The dinner, the White House Correspondents Association dinner, was just beginning with the president and the vice president up on stage.

Then we heard a burst of what sounded like gunfire.

It did not sound like it was in the room.

Then security personnel, including many heavily armed security personnel, rushed in, tactical team getting the president out, the vice president, and many members of the cabinet, as well as the speaker of the House, who was also in the line of presidential succession.

In 2011, Trump attended as a celebrity guest at a time when he was on a high-profile, conspiracy-driven quest to get then-President Obama to release his birth certificate.

Both Obama and comedian Seth Meyers mocked Trump relentlessly that night.

Trump boycotted the dinner his entire first term.

This year, the association hired a mentalist instead of a comedian, and the president, who calls the press the enemy of the people, agreed to attend.

Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt gave a preview of sorts.

And his speech will be very entertaining, that is what I will tell you, so everyone should tune in.

The event is meant to be a celebration of a free and independent press.

Tamara Keith, NPR News.

In 2011, Trump attended as a celebrity guest at a time when he was on a high-profile, conspiracy-driven quest to get then-President Obama to release his birth certificate.

Both Obama and comedian Seth Meyers mocked Trump relentlessly that night.

Trump boycotted the dinner his entire first term.

This year, the association hired a mentalist instead of a comedian.

And the president, who calls the press the enemy of the people, agreed to attend.

Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt gave a preview of sorts.