Featured Image Credit: C-SPAN
Topics: US News, News, Donald Trump, Crime
Lucy Devine
The man who was filmed continuing to eat his salad at the White House Correspondents' Dinner has justified his decision to stay put.
On Saturday evening (25 April), US President Donald Trump was present at a dinner held at the Washington Hilton Hotel, alongside other government officials and a room full of journalists.
But the event turned to chaos when an armed man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher and engineer, was accused of rushing a White House security checkpoint and exchanging gunfire with law enforcement.
Video footage of the moment the incident took place has been circulating online, with several clips revealing what happened.
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One clip shows Vice President JD Vance, 41, being manoeuvred away from a dinner table by the Secret Service, meanwhile armed police can be seen storming the room before removing Trump and the First Lady, Melania Trump, away from the ballroom.
Meanwhile, many of the journalists sat at tables ducked down to take cover.
In one clip taken during the incident, Creative Artists Agency agent Michael Glantz could be seen remaining in his seat and even taking a few bites of his food as many others around him sheltered under the tables for protection.
Glantz has since spoken about the moment to The New York Times, explaining why he decided not to move.
He said: “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.
“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.”
Glantz also told White House Correspondents Insider that he wasn’t nervous.
“Born and raised in New York,” he said. “Didn’t scare me at all. I didn’t want to miss the show.”
The suspected gunman appeared in federal court on Monday and was charged with three federal crimes.
Cole Thomas Allen was charged with attempting to assassinate the US president, transportation of firearms to commit a felony, and unlawful discharge of a firearm during violence.
“Let this be a message to anyone who thinks that Washington DC is the place to act out political violence,” said Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia. “And if you are willing to do so with a firearm and cross state lines, we will find you, we will track your steps from the inception of your plans and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”