Dana White described his experience at the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting as 'f***ing awesome,' despite the chaos. He recounted the scene of people running and tables flipping as security responded to the incident.
Key points
Dana White attended the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner.
He described the shooting experience as 'f***ing awesome.'
White witnessed chaos with tables flipping and people running.
Mentioned in this story
Dana WhiteUltimate Fighting ChampionshipWashington, D.C.
White House Correspondents' Dinner
Dana White attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Dana White attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026, in Washington, D.C. - Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Dana White, president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), was present for the White House Correspondentsâ Dinner shooting on Saturday, April 25, and he called the experience âf***ing awesome.â
âIt started getting noisy,â White told reporters, including NBC Newsâ Ryan J. Reilly, after the incident. âTables getting flipped over, guys running in with guns. And they were screaming, âGet down!â But I didnât get down. It was f***ing awesome. I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience.â
He added: âWe were sitting right in front of the table, right in front of where the president was. Guys came in, looking for shooters. They came toward our table. I thought the shooter was over by us or something, but no. ⊠It was a unique experience.â
Social media users clapped back at Whiteâs assessment of the incident. âWhat a bulls*** thing to say,â one X user wrote. âIt was âawesome,â was it? ⊠Makes a big difference when youâre not the target, eh, chucklehead? My disgust knows no boundsâŠ.â
Another person commented, âIâm sorry, but I think this is a totally dumb***/clueless response. He needs to explain himself, unless he doesnât care if people think heâs an idiot.â
The chaos unfolded at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night. The suspect exchanged gunfire with authorities, shooting a Secret Service agent who was wearing a bulletproof vest and was taken to a hospital for treatment, reports.
Q&A
What did Dana White say about the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting?
Dana White called the shooting experience 'f***ing awesome,' highlighting the chaos and his unique perspective during the incident.
When did the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner occur?
The shooting incident occurred on April 25, 2026, during the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
How did Dana White react during the shooting at the dinner?
Dana White did not take cover during the shooting; instead, he described taking in every moment of the chaotic scene.
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The Secret Service apprehended the suspect, who was carrying knives, a shotgun, and a handgun, officials said. The suspect didnât reach the ballroom where President Donald Trump, cabinet members, and members of the media were mingling, according to Washington police chief Jeffery W. Carroll.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said the suspect was set to be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and with assault of a federal officer. Pirro also said additional charges were expected when the suspect is arraigned in a federal court on Monday.
On Meet the Press on Sunday morning, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the shooter âset out to target folks that work in the [Trump] administration, likely including the president.â