President Trump said he doubts his war with Iran motivated Saturday night's shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, even as the incident derailed fragile peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
"I don't think so, but you never know," Trump told reporters at a press conference after Secret Service rushed him from the Washington Hilton when gunshots erupted. The shooter remains in custody, with authorities promising to release motive details when available.
The timing complicates already stalled diplomacy. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi plans to return to Islamabad on Sunday — just one day after leaving Pakistan, which has emerged as the key mediator in ceasefire talks. But Araghchi has not confirmed whether he'll meet with U.S. officials.
Trump had cancelled his negotiating team's second Pakistan trip on Saturday, telling reporters he'd rejected Iran's latest peace proposal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pushed back Sunday, telling Pakistan's prime minister that Iran would not enter "forced negotiations" under pressure, threats, or blockade.
World leaders rushed to condemn the Washington shooting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it an "attempted assassination," posting on X that he was "shocked" and "relieved that the President and the First Lady are safe and strong."
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who has been mediating the Iran talks, called the incident a "cowardly shooting" and condemned "all forms of violence which is enemy of diplomacy." Turkey's foreign minister held phone calls with U.S. negotiators, according to Turkish state media.
Meanwhile, Araghchi was in Oman this weekend meeting Sultan Haitham about ending the Iran conflict. "His Majesty the Sultan emphasised the critical importance of prioritising dialogue and diplomacy as the primary tools for addressing complex issues," the Muscat Daily reported.
The diplomatic chaos comes as Iran continues seizing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats approached the cargo ship Epaminondas on April 21, with state media describing it as part of seizures targeting ships for alleged violations in the strategic waterway.
For American taxpayers funding the conflict, the stalled talks mean continued military spending in the Middle East with no clear end in sight. The shooting incident adds another layer of uncertainty to negotiations that were already facing resistance from Iranian leadership unwilling to appear weak under military pressure.
Watch whether Araghchi actually meets with U.S. officials during his return to Pakistan, and whether Trump will send his negotiating team back to Islamabad after rejecting Iran's latest proposal.
