NPR News: 04-26-2026 5AM EDT
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. An investigation is underway after gunfire broke out at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner last night. NPR's Franco Ordonez says the Secret Service rushed President Trump and the First Lady out of the ballroom as agents responded to reports of shots fired.
People are just finishing up their first dish. Salads and plates were being cleared when we heard this bang, bang, bang. I heard at least three bangs. My guest, who is in the administration, kind of turns toward me, kind of with a half glance towards the back as well, which is where we heard these bangs from, and then just crash. I mean, everything's crashing to the floor. These are people crashing to the floors, plates crashing, people, trays going in. And it was just very chaotic. You heard a few screams and then security was rushing in. Dozens of dozens of security agents. You had Secret Service. You had officers in FBI jackets and DEA jackets. I'm talking full tactical gear.
That's NPR's Franco Ordonez reporting. After being evacuated from the Washington Hilton, President Trump spoke at the White House praising the actions of the Secret Service.
The fact that they just unified, I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was in one way very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons. and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service, and they acted very quickly.
Authorities say the suspect is in custody and is believed to have been staying at the hotel. The Secret Service agent was struck during the exchange but was protected by a bulletproof vest. Prosecutors say the suspect is expected to face federal charges, including firearms offenses and assault on a federal officer. French President Emmanuel Macron says President Trump is weakening NATO and undermining trust in its collective defense pact. Terry Schultz reports France is now urging fellow Europeans to look more seriously at strengthening their own security.
President Macron says European security is facing unprecedented challenges exacerbated by President Trump's regular criticism of Europeans and his suggestions the U.S. might opt out of NATO's collective security guarantee, Article 5, if an ally got attacked. It's clearly de facto weakening the strength of the alliance. Europeans are increasingly examining the collective security clause in the European Union Treaty 42.7 and whether it provides strong enough military and political commitments without the U.S. While structures and planning like NATO's are not in place in the EU, Macron says the obligation to come to the aid of fellow governments is unambiguous. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.
You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Two wildfires in southeastern Georgia are continuing to threaten homes as strong winds raise concerns the flames could spread. Officials say the Highway 82 fire has been burning since Monday, destroying nearly 90 homes. A second fire burning near the Florida border has destroyed at least 35 homes. Officials say both fires are only about 10 percent contained. At the box office this weekend, the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, appears headed for a record-breaking opening. NPR's Bob Mandela reports.
A week ago, industry observers were saying Antoine Fuqua's long-delayed portrait of pop superstar Michael Jackson was likely to sell about $50 million worth of tickets in the U.S.
this weekend.
Then critics weighed in, talking about a troubled production history and mostly crashing the film as a sanitized PR pitch by the Jackson estate. And audiences apparently decided they didn't care. With about $40 million in the till for Michael on its first day, weekend estimates have risen to as much as $100 million in North America and another $100 million plus overseas, easily a record for a pop music biopic. Bob Mandello, NPR News.
King Charles is set to begin a state visit to the United States on Monday.
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