Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan condemned the disturbing shooting incident in Washington and expressed relief that U.S. President Donald Trump and other top American officials were unharmed after the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

In a statement on X, Pashinyan said that violence has no place in democratic societies.

“Glad to hear President Donald Trump & First Lady, the Vice President & other attendees are safe & strong after disturbing shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Violence has no place in our democratic societies. Wishing POTUS continued well-being amid today’s challenges,” Pashinyan said on X.

U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other senior officials were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington by Secret Service agents on Saturday night after a man opened fire on security personnel nearby.

The man fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a ‌checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested, Reuters reported. 

Trump told reporters at a briefing at the White House later that the officer was saved by his bulletproof vest and was in “good shape.”

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was the target of the attack, though he told reporters he believed that he was. The U.S. president has survived two previous attempts on his life since 2024.

A law enforcement official identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a California resident about 31 years old, Reuters reported.

The ⁠suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. He was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated but it was too soon to say what his motivation was, Reuters reported citing law enforcement officials. 

Based on preliminary information, he was believed to have been a guest at the hotel.