UFC chief executive Dana White has described the experience of a shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner as 'fucking awesome', sparking criticism. The incident occurred on Saturday night when gunfire interrupted the event, causing panic among attendees.
White, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, was seated near the front of the ballroom. As security personnel shouted for people to get down, White said he chose not to take cover, instead absorbing the chaos. 'Tables getting flipped over, guys running in with guns... I didn’t get down – it was fucking awesome,' he told reporters.
The suspected gunman, identified as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was apprehended by law enforcement. The acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, stated that the suspect is believed to have been targeting Trump and senior administration officials.
White's bond with Trump, strengthened by the president's enthusiasm for UFC, has been noted. Trump has announced a UFC fight event at the White House on 14 June, his 80th birthday, to mark the United States' 250th anniversary.
