UFC president Dana White experienced Saturday night's gunfire at the White House correspondents' dinner as something far removed from terror. While other attendees scrambled for safety, White remained transfixed by the unfolding chaos.
White was seated near the front of the ballroom when shots erupted. Rather than seeking cover, he absorbed every moment with what he described as exhilaration. "All of a sudden, it just started getting noisy," White recounted to reporters. "Tables getting flipped over, guys running in with guns and they were screaming 'Get down!' I didn't get down, it was fucking awesome. I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience."
As law enforcement descended on his table, White initially wondered if the shooter was nearby. "They came towards our table," he said, smiling at the memory. "I thought the shooter was over by us or something."
Police took a suspect into custody at the scene. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche identified the gunman's target as Trump and senior administration officials. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was apprehended by law enforcement.
White's enthusiasm during the incident reflects his deep ties to Trump. The UFC leader and the president have cultivated a close relationship, with Trump's passion for mixed martial arts credited with expanding the sport's reach among younger male voters. That alliance will deepen this summer when Trump hosts a UFC event at the White House on June 14 to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, which also marks Trump's 80th birthday.
Author James Rodriguez: "White's take on a shooting that sent most people diving for cover reveals something unsettling about how some insiders view danger when they're buffered by power and proximity."
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