Nicki Minaj briefly reacted online after a shooting incident disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., an event she was reportedly expected to attend alongside Donald Trump.
According to reports, Minaj was running late and never made it inside the Washington Hilton before chaos unfolded outside the ballroom. Social media reports claimed the rapper later posted a short video to TikTok from inside a vehicle, captioning it only with a U.S. flag emoji and prayer hands emoji following news of the incident.
Authorities say the situation began when a suspect allegedly rushed a security checkpoint near the dinner and opened fire. Secret Service agents quickly evacuated Trump, cabinet members, and attendees from the ballroom as panic spread through the event. One federal officer was reportedly struck in a ballistic vest but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement later identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump and target administration officials. Prosecutors allege Allen arrived at the event armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun, and knives. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The incident immediately dominated headlines online, especially given that it marked Trump’s first appearance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as president. Videos circulating on social media showed attendees taking cover under tables while armed security officers flooded the hotel.
Minaj has not publicly commented further on the incident beyond her brief social media post. Her reported attendance at the event had already generated controversy due to her outspoken support of Trump, which has sparked backlash from critics in recent months.
As investigators continue examining the motive behind the attack, the shooting has reignited concerns about political violence and security surrounding high-profile public events in the United States.
