White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt used an April 27, 2026 briefing to recount her firsthand experience during the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, describing the reaction of Donald Trump as calm and resolute while he was being evacuated alongside the first lady and senior officials.
Leavitt, who said she was seated right by the president and first lady when shots rang out, described the moments before Secret Service agents moved them to safety. She emphasized the president’s demeanor amid the chaos. “The president’s calm in the face of chaos while yet another individual was trying to take his life was really remarkable to witness, and it’s something I will never forget,” she said.
Her remarks placed the president’s actions in the context of repeated threats against him, portraying his response as consistent with past incidents. The shooting, which prompted a rapid evacuation and law enforcement response, marked the latest in a series of assassination attempts referenced by the administration.
Leavitt characterized Trump’s conduct as driven by his commitment to the country and his policy agenda. “President Trump is fearless because he loves this country and he is willing to put his own life on the line to deliver on the promises that he made to the American public who elected him into the highest office in the land,” she said.
She concluded by noting that, despite praising the president’s response, such circumstances should not be normalized. “While we are blessed to have a fearless president, we should not live in a country where such constant fear of political violence permeates our society every single day,” Leavitt added, reflecting on the broader implications of the incident.