When gunshots were heard in the middle of the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, the majority of guests rushed to hide under the tables. Amid the chaos, however, one of them seemed to have remained impassive, continuing to nibble his burrata salad calmly. A surprising reaction that went viral on social networks.
Published on: 04/27/2026 - 12:11
The starter, a salad of peas and burrata, had just been served in the huge ballroom of the Washington Hilton, a posh hotel in the American capital, when gunshots began to be heard outside the reception room on Saturday April 25. At first confused and thinking of spilled dishes, the majority of guests at this annual White House Correspondents' Dinner eventually rushed to the floor, hiding under the tables. Seconds later, costumed agents and Secret Service agents appeared, evacuating Donald Trump, his wife, JD Vance and several senior administration officials.
Also read: Trump evacuated from press gala after shooting: what we know
Due to professional distortion, many journalists took out their phones to film the surrounding chaos. This is how one of them captured the surprising reaction of Michael Glantz, talent agent at CAA (Creative Artists Agency), one of the largest talent agencies in the world.
“I’m a New Yorker.”
While everyone took shelter, he remained seated in his place, without blinking, enjoying his entry. The unusual images of his surprising Olympian calm, captured by CNN, quickly sparked a reaction on social networks, to the point of earning him the nickname "the salad man".
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Questioned by The New York Times on Sunday, the latter had a very simple explanation for this lack of reaction: "I'm a New Yorker. We live with sirens and agitation all the time," explained the one who represents eminent personalities in the world of media, including CNN presenter Wolf Blitzer. "I wasn't afraid. There were hundreds of Secret Service agents throwing themselves over tables and chairs. I wanted to watch."
Curiosity, then, but that's not all. "I have a back problem. I couldn't throw myself on the ground. I would have had to bring people to help me get up," he continued. "Besides, I'm a very particular person about hygiene. There was absolutely no way I was going to put my new tuxedo on the filthy floor of the Hilton. It was impossible."
Champagne selfie
His reaction wasn't the only one to spark comments on social media. A few hours after the shooting, photos published on X show journalists and influencers taking selfies with bottles of champagne or wine pilfered during the incident. “The highlight of the shooting was all the journalists and influencers who grabbed bottles of wine and champagne. Bravo to them for that,” underline several Internet users.
About an hour later, around 9:30 p.m., the journalists were finally escorted out, without having had the opportunity to eat the rest of the dinner. Direction the White House where Donald Trump was going to speak to react to the events.
Also read "Crazy", "genius", anti-Trump: what we know about the suspect shooter at the press gala
But those who love burrata and champagne can rest assured. As of Sunday evening, interviewed on the show "60 Minutes" on CBS, Donald Trump expressed his desire to reorganize the interrupted dinner within 30 days, with additional security measures. “We will do it again,” he assured, “and there will be even more security.”
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