Asian nations condemn shooting incident at White House Correspondents' Dinner

Asian nations have condemned a shooting incident outside the venue of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on Saturday evening.

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the annual event at the Washington Hilton, and were unharmed.

Trump said one person was in custody after the incident. He described the suspect as a “very sick person” and a “thug” who had attacked the US Constitution.

Others in attendance included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on US social media company X that he was relieved to learn that President Trump, First Lady Melania and Vice President Vance “are safe and unharmed.”

“I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being,” Modi said. “Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.”

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the incident and termed it “a heinous act of terrorism.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply shocked” by the “disturbing” shooting incident.

“Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with him, and I wish him continued safety and well-being,” he said.

Condemning the shooting, Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese applauded the US Secret Service and other law enforcement “for their swift action”.

“I am pleased to hear the President and the First Lady, along with all attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, are safe,” he said.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung dubbed political violence a "grave threat" to democracy that "cannot be justified under any circumstances."

*"Political violence is a grave threat that undermines the very foundation of democracy and can never be justified under any circumstances," Lee wrote in a message on US social media company X.

South Korea "firmly" opposes all forms of violence and extremism that erode the values of democracy and the rule of law, he further said.

In a post on X, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said: “I am relieved to learn that President Trump is safe after the terrifying gunshots.”

“Violence can never be tolerated anywhere in the world,” she added.