Trump Dinner Shooting: While Guests Dive For Cover, This Man Kept Eating Salad

Last Updated:April 27, 2026, 11:38 IST

The video went viral on social media platforms and earned him nicknames such as "the salad guy" and a whirlwind of conversation.

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: Tensions gripped Washington DC’s Hilton Hotel on Saturday after a gunman opened fire during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, prompting US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and others to be evacuated.

Secret Service personnel and other authorities rushed into the banquet hall as hundreds of guests took cover under tables. Shouts of “Out of the way, sir!" and calls to duck were heard.

However, amidst all the chaos, a man remained seated and engrossed in finishing up his salad. He was later identified as Creative Artists Agency’s (CAA) Michael Glantz, whose calm response in a chaotic situation garnered netizens’ attention.

A video is doing rounder the corner on social media platforms, showing an unfazed-looking Glantz — known as “‘super agent" for representing top TV stars and other showbiz talent — calmly eating his salad, even as everyone around him ran for cover and towards exits.

The video went viral on social media platforms and earned him nicknames such as “the salad guy" and a whirlwind of conversation. A user called him “my man!", while another pointed out that he “stood up when everyone was told to get down" — a play on an otherwise political line used against authoritarian rule.

He later spoke to TMZ, and said that he is glad folks are finding levity from the viral clip after such a “horrific moment." While he said that he thinks it’s “silly" how he’s going viral for eating his salad … he added that he doesn’t mind being laughed at.

What Happened At Hilton Hotel?

On Saturday night, around 2,500 guests were present at the Washington Hilton when gunfire erupted near the ballroom hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, triggering panic among thousands of attendees.

The heavily armed suspect was intercepted before reaching the ballroom and taken into custody. One agent was hit but survived due to a bulletproof vest, New York Post reported.

Secret Service personnel and other authorities rushed into the banquet hall as hundreds of guests took cover under tables. Shouts of “Out of the way, sir!" and calls to duck were heard. The banquet hall, where hundreds of journalists, celebrities and national leaders were waiting for Trump’s speech, was evacuated immediately.

News world Trump Dinner Shooting: While Guests Dive For Cover, This Man Kept Eating Salad

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