Merve Berker

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated Saturday night from the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner in Washington, DC, after a security-related incident at the event.

Trump and top-level administration officials seated by him at the head table were escorted out by Secret Service agents as part of heightened security measures, while other guests remained inside the Washington Hilton ballroom.

The president and Vice President JD Vance were later reported to be “safe and secure.”

Witnesses reported hearing loud noises during the event.

“We were sitting here, and we just heard a loud ‘pop, pop, pop.’ Everybody just went under the table, and we didn’t know what was happening,” broadcaster NewsNation quoted its White House correspondent Kellie Meyer as saying.

The head table was rushed off the stage as part of security measures, while other guests remained inside the ballroom.

Meyer said she observed Cabinet members being escorted out of the venue.

Further details were not immediately available regarding the nature of the incident or any injuries.

Host Weija Jiang later informed guests that the event would resume at a later time.

Washington, D.C. (04/24/2026) – The Washington Spirit took home its second win of the season on Friday night, defeating the Kansas City Current 4-0. The top two finishers from last season played in front of a sold-out stadium of 19,215 fans at Audi Field.

Washington took charge quickly, cooking up a couple of close opportunities at the top of the highly anticipated matchup. The Current responded to the attacks with attacks of their own, setting the stage for what was sure to be a gritty match. Goalkeeper Sandy MacIver made a sliding save in a one-on-one against former Spirit player Croix Bethune after a fumble in Washington’s back.

Soon after, a buildup though the whole squad led to Rosemonde Kouassi grazing the right post with a powerful shot following a fake-out from fellow forward Sofia Cantore.

The scrappy back and forth continued with the Spirit slowly inching toward Kansas City’s goal. In the 25th minute, a cross from Trinity Rodman found the one touch foot of Leicy Santos and then the back of the net, giving the Spirit the early lead. Santos locked in her second goal of the NWSL season, and Rodman her first assist of the season. Kansas City battled back, sending forward Temwa Chawinga streaking through the middle of the field, momentarily untouchable until Spirit keeper MacIver denied the Current once again with another sliding save.

Nearing the end of the first half, Kansas City’s final third became a playground for the Spirit. Kouassi, Cantore and Santos expertly passed around the defense, narrowly missing shots. A goal would finally come, in the third minute of first-half stoppage time after Kansas City keeper Lorena misjudged a corner kick; the ball passed through her hands and landed at the feet of Rodman, who effortlessly secured the Spirit’s 2-0 lead. This was Rodman’s first goal of the NWSL season.

The Spirit brought energy right out of the locker room to start the second half. The high-pressure attack quickly paid off when a ball from Hal Hershfelt sent Cantore flying up the right and sent a cross angled back to a patiently waiting Santos to finish the play, netting her second goal of the game and third of the season.

The Spirit defense started to see some more action after the third goal; Tara Rudd, Esme Morgan, Kate Wiesner and Lucia Di Guglielmo shut down all threats to their net. Claudia Martínez replaced Cantore at the top and immediately made her presence known. Kouassi sprinted from half field, closed in on the visitor’s net before crossing the ball to Martínez, who sliced a rebound shot past the Kansas City keeper, clinching the first goal of her NWSL career to make it 4-0 Spirit.

As the clock counted down the final minutes of the game, Kansas City was rewarded a free kick at the top of the box, and the strike from Ally Sentnor pinged off the crossbar, forcing a full team effort from the Spirit to eventually clear the danger. In the last minute, a successful slide tackle from Tara Rudd, secured the team’s third consecutive clean sheet.

Next up, the Spirit will continue its homestand, hosting Racing Louisville FC on Wednesday, April 29. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. EDT and air on Victory+.

-NWSL Match Report- 

Match: Washington Spirit vs. Kansas City Current 

Date: Friday, April 24, 2025 

Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.) 

Kickoff: 8 p.m. EDT 

Weather: Mostly cloudy, high-60s 

Scoring Summary: 

WAS – Leicy Santos – 25′ (assisted by Trinity Rodman) 

WAS – Trinity Rodman – 45+3’ 

WAS – Leicy Santos – 56’ 

WAS – Claudia Martínez – 75’ 

Lineups: 

WAS: 18 – Sandy MacIver; 6 – Kate Wiesner; 24 – Esme Morgan; 9 – Tara Rudd; 13 – Lucia Di Guglielmo (5 – Élisabeth Tsé, 78’); 4 – Rebeca Bernal; 10 – Leicy Santos; 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 2 – Trinity Rodman (21 – Gift Monday, 78’); 27 – Sofia Cantore (11 – Claudia Martínez, 65’); 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi (16 – Tamara Bolt, 83’) 

Unused Substitutes: 31 – Kaylie Collins; 11 – Claudia Martínez; 14 – Gabrielle Carle; 26 – Paige Metayer; 29 – Emma Gaines-Ramos; 35 – Madison Haugen 

KC: 23 – Lorena; 18 – Izzy Rodriguez; 24 – Gabrielle Robinson; 27 – Kayla Sharples; 5 – Ellie Bravo-Young; 8 – Croix Bethune (66 – Kyra Carusa, 75’); 99 – Debinha (11 – Rocky Rodríguez, 46’); 10 – Lo’eau LaBonta (22 – Bayley Feist, 82’); 6 – Temwa Chawinga (13 – Haley Hopkins, 65’); 21 – Ally Sentnor; 17 – Michelle Cooper (3 – Amelia White, 75’) 

Unused Substitutes: 1 – Marisa Jordan; 2 – Laney Rouse; 7 – Elizabeth Ball; 55 – Penelope Hocking 

Stats Summary: WAS / KC 

Shots: 18 / 8 

Shots On Goal: 7 / 3 

Saves: 3 / 3 

Fouls: 17 / 13 

Offsides: 2 / 3 

Misconduct Summary: 

KC – Kayla Sharples – 13′ – Yellow Card 

KC – Michelle Cooper – 43′ – Yellow Card