WASHINGTON D.C. — UFC CEO Dana White made headlines with his reaction to the shooting incident that occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25, at the Washington Hilton hotel. White, a friend of President Donald Trump, was among the attendees when an alleged gunman opened fire inside the ballroom, injuring a Secret Service agent. His reaction to the chaotic moments that followed has drawn significant attention.
White’s Reaction to the Chaos
White recalled the intense moments during the shooting, saying, “All of a sudden, it just started getting noisy. Tables started getting flipped over, guys running with guns, and they were screaming, ‘Get down!'” However, White’s response was different from many others in the room. “I didn’t get down. It was f—ing awesome, and I literally took every minute of it in,” he added with a smile, describing the situation as “a pretty crazy, unique experience.”
At the time of the incident, White was sitting directly in front of the head table where the president was located. “Nobody got tackled, but guys came in looking for the shooter. I thought the shooter was over by us or something,” White recalled.
The Shooter and Investigation
Following the disruption, President Trump, who was onstage at the time, was quickly escorted out of the ballroom by Secret Service agents. The incident led to the evacuation of other prominent figures, including Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Reports soon confirmed that the shooter had been apprehended. Trump expressed his appreciation for the Secret Service and law enforcement’s swift response. “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the evening would proceed as planned once law enforcement gave the green light.
Investigation into the Suspect
At a press conference, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and law enforcement officials indicated that the alleged gunman, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, Calif., acted alone. Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. He had been staying at the Washington Hilton and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers when he was intercepted after breaching a security checkpoint.
Investigators Continue Searching for a Motive
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared on Face the Nation, revealing that the preliminary investigation suggested Allen may have been targeting members of the administration. The investigation into the suspect’s motive is ongoing.
UFC CEO’s Relationship with Trump
White’s involvement in the incident has stirred interest not only because of his presence at the dinner but also because of his long-standing relationship with President Trump. White is scheduled to promote an MMA event, UFC Freedom 250, on the White House lawn in June 2024. White previously expressed concerns about Trump’s safety after he was shot at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., in July 2024, urging the president to drop out of the 2024 race. However, after the rally, White revealed that Trump was “completely unfazed” by the incident.
