UFC CEO Dana White on Saturday shared a bizarre firsthand account of the scene following the shooting outside the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. White, in an interview with USA Today, recalled tables being 'flipped over' while law enforcement ran in and called on those in the room — including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Cabinet members — to 'get down.'
'I didn't get down. It was fucking awesome. I literally took every minute of it in and it was a pretty — pretty crazy unique experience,' said White, who was seated in front of the head table featuring the president, his VP, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and others.
Video circulating on social media shows White, a Trump supporter whose company is set to host a fight on the White House's South Lawn in less than two months, with his mouth agape as he moves his head around like an owl while remaining seated. In the backdrop, armed men are seen surveilling the Washington Hilton ballroom from the stage. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were among those who were whisked off the stage moments before by members of the U.S. Secret Service.
White, who appeared to marvel at the scene, didn't adhere to the calls to 'get down' while a majority of the guests in the room were seen hunching below their tables or down close to the floor. White told USA Today that the law enforcement response initially led him to believe the shooter was near his table.
Officials have yet to publicly identify a suspect in the shooting but have one man in custody. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC's 'Meet the Press' that the shooter — who checked in as a guest to the hotel and is believed to have traveled from California to the event — attempted to storm the ballroom to target Trump officials.
Critics on social media took issue with White's wild account of the shooting, including a UFC broadcaster on X who questioned if it was the 'best quote to give after being at a shooting.' Many users expressed outrage, with comments such as 'They're acting like this was something out of WestWorld' and 'We really do live in the dumbest time in human history.' Others noted the irony of White's company planning a UFC fight at the White House. The incident has sparked widespread debate about the appropriateness of White's remarks in the context of a violent event.
