Proceedings at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner took a sudden turn over the weekend after guests inside the ballroom were startled by what sounded like gunfire outside.
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and several cabinet officials were quickly ushered out, while others at the event were reported to have taken cover under tables as confusion spread through the room.
But one attendee soon became the focus of online attention: Creative Artists Agency agent Michael Glantz, who was filmed staying put and continuing his meal even as people around him reacted to the disturbance.
Glantz has since explained why he didn’t follow the crowd, laying out his reasoning in an interview.
“First of all, I have a bad back. I couldn’t get on the floor, and if I did get on the floor, they’d have to bring in people to get me off the floor,” he told the New York Times.
He added that there was another practical concern: he didn’t want to ruin his outfit. “And No. 2, I’m a hygiene freak. There was no freaking way I was getting in my new tux on the dirty Hilton floor. It was not happening,” he told the publication. Priorities!
The New York native also suggested the commotion didn’t rattle him the way it might have others, saying he’s accustomed to loud noises, sirens and general city chaos.
Glantz maintained he never felt frightened and was more focused on seeing what was unfolding. Recounting the moment to the WHC Insider the next day, he said: “I just didn’t want to miss the show!”
Others at the dinner have also shared their reactions, though few appeared as unbothered as Glantz in the viral clip.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was reportedly mid-performance for the President and First Lady when the bangs were heard, said he believed those in the room were ‘about to die’.
Trump later described his own initial assumption about the sound while speaking to reporters, saying: “I heard a noise and thought it was a tray. I thought it was a tray going down – I’ve heard that many times – it was a pretty loud noise, and it was from pretty far away.
“It was quite far away – but it was a gun. Some people really understood that pretty quickly, others didn’t. I was watching to see what was happening, but probably should’ve gone down even faster.”
Authorities have since charged Cole Tomas Allen, alleging attempted assassination of the President of the United States, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony.