A handful of global leaders, including those from Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Pakistan, issued statements denouncing political violence.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, April 26, 2026 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to publicly express relief and condemn the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner, where Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and other senior officials were safely evacuated.
In a statement posted on X, Modi said he was “relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed,” adding that “violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.”
Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2026
Reactions from other leaders
A small number of other leaders also issued statements condemning the violence and expressing relief:
- President Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico): “It’s great that President Trump and his wife are doing well after the recent events. We send our respect. Violence should never be the way.”
- PM Mark Carney (Canada): “Political violence has no place in any democracy and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event.” (He added relief that Trump and attendees were safe.)
- PM Sanae Takaichi (Japan): Condemned the attack and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed.
- PM Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan): “Deeply shocked by the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and attendees are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with them.” (Pakistan’s President also joined in condemning the incident.)
Notable silence from major powers
As of early Sunday, there had been no public statements from Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, or several major European leaders. The absence of immediate responses from these key global powers stood in contrast to the swift reactions from Modi and a handful of others.
The incident occurred on April 25 evening at the Washington Hilton, when gunshots were reported near a security checkpoint during the high-profile WHCA Dinner. A suspect armed with multiple weapons was apprehended after attempting to breach the area.
President Trump and senior officials were quickly evacuated and confirmed safe. A Secret Service agent was struck during the exchange but was protected by body armor and was not injured. Authorities have taken the suspect into custody, and investigations into the motive and sequence of events are ongoing.
President Trump later praised the Secret Service for acting “quickly and bravely.”
The selective and limited global response highlights the varying diplomatic dynamics surrounding incidents involving high-profile political figures. While several leaders moved quickly to condemn the violence, the silence from others may reflect broader geopolitical considerations.
Further reactions are expected as more details about the incident emerge.
