**Excerpt:** CBS News journalists recount their experiences during a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, highlighting their reactions and the unfolding chaos.
**Key Points:**
– A gunman attempted to breach a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
– Journalists reported hearing gunfire and commands from security to take cover.
– Attendees, including high-profile officials, were quickly evacuated or instructed to hide.
– Eyewitness accounts varied, with some noting the sound of gunfire while others perceived it as loud noises.
– The incident raised immediate concerns about security measures at high-profile events.
Incident Overview
During the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, a gunman attempted to breach a security checkpoint outside the venue, leading to a chaotic scene inside. Journalists from CBS News provided firsthand accounts of the incident, which quickly escalated.
Eyewitness Accounts
Weijia Jiang
Weijia Jiang, a senior White House correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents Association, was seated next to President Trump when the incident occurred. She described hearing commotion while watching a mentalist perform.
“I looked out in the audience and thought there might have been a heckler. But I didn’t see one,” Jiang recounted. Armed agents rushed toward the dais, shouting commands for everyone to get down. Jiang followed suit, crawling under the table as security responded.
Nancy Cordes
Chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes noted that the dinner had just commenced, with guests enjoying their salad courses when the chaos erupted. “Suddenly these Secret Service agents started running down the middle of the ballroom, yelling at everyone to get under our tables,” she explained. Cordes and others remained under cover until they were assured it was safe.
Ed O’Keefe
Senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe heard a loud noise from the back of the room that triggered a rush of security personnel. He observed many officials quickly dropping to the floor. “You can tell they’ve been trained for situations like this,” O’Keefe said, noting that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise reacted immediately, recalling his own experience surviving a shooting in 2017.
Major Garrett
Major Garrett, CBS News’ Chief Washington correspondent, was close to the dais and heard the sound of plates dropping as security reacted. “We heard the cascading sounds of plates dropping, things being pushed out of the way rapidly,” he said, describing how everyone instinctively sought cover.
Margaret Brennan
Margaret Brennan, moderator of “Face the Nation,” reported hearing a loud noise and commands to get down. She shared that the Secretary of Defense was also on alert during the incident. “It was clear something had happened,” she stated.
Olivia Rinaldi and Nicole Sganga
White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi recalled hearing multiple shots and recognizing the sound from a previous incident involving Trump. “We heard what sounded like three to four successive shots,” she said. Nicole Sganga, reporting from a nearby table, confirmed that the sounds prompted immediate action from security.
Conclusion
The shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has raised questions about security protocols at high-profile events. Eyewitness accounts highlight the rapid response of security and the instinctive actions of attendees in the face of danger.
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