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Delcy Rodríguez, interim president of Venezuela, published a message on her X account this Sunday rejecting the attempted aggression that occurred the night before against President Donald Trump during the Annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C.
"We reject the attempt of aggression against President Trump and his wife, Melania, to whom we extend our best wishes, as well as to the attendees of the Correspondents' Dinner. Violence will never be an option for those of us who champion the banners of peace," wrote Rodríguez.
The incident occurred on Saturday at around 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, when an unidentified individual ran into the dining area and was confronted by security agents. Witnesses reported hearing between four and five gunshots.
Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several cabinet members were urgently evacuated by the Secret Service. Among the officials present were FBI Director Kash Patel, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy.
A suspect is in custody of the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police of Washington. The White House confirmed that the president, the first lady, and all the protected individuals were safe, and the event was canceled.
This Sunday, Trump addressed the nation from the White House confirming the capture of the suspect. The investigation was assigned to the Secret Service, the FBI, and other federal agencies.
Rodríguez's statement is particularly significant in the current context of relations between Caracas and Washington. The interim president assumed office on January 5, 2026, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, and since then has maintained a gradual rapprochement with the Trump administration.
The U.S. government removed Rodríguez from the OFAC sanctions list on April 1, 2026, and recognized her as the legitimate authority of Venezuela. In recent months, the interim president has met with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a delegation from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and participated in an investors' forum in Miami.
On the same Saturday of the incident, Rodríguez received the new U.S. representative in Venezuela, John Barrett, who reiterated Trump's "three-phase plan" for the Venezuelan transition.
The incident at the Correspondents' Dinner is the second attack against Trump in less than two years, following the shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, where he was slightly injured.
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