Business Leaders React to Gunfire at White House Correspondents’ Dinner: Musk, White, CNN Chief and More Share Their Views

Chaos erupted at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night when multiple gunshots were heard in the ballroom, prompting the immediate evacuation of President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials by the Secret Service.

The incident, which occurred during the evening’s proceedings, led to a swift security response as attendees sought shelter. According to the Secret Service, a federal agent was struck in the line of duty but sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being hit in their bulletproof vest. The suspect was apprehended at the scene, and investigations remain ongoing.

Business Leaders Share Reactions to the Incident

Several prominent business figures in attendance offered public reactions to the unfolding events, reflecting a range of perspectives on the security breach and its implications.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, reposted an official statement from the White House on his social media platform X, quoting President Trump: “In light of this evening’s events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully.” Musk has been a vocal supporter of Trump following the July 2024 assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, though their relationship experienced public tension in 2025 before returning to a more cordial tone at recent public appearances.

Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), described the scene in starkly different terms, telling MMAJunkie — part of USA Today’s sports desk — that the experience was “fucking awesome” and that he “literally took every minute of it in,” calling it a “pretty crazy, unique experience.” His remarks were captured in a video posted to X shortly after the incident.

Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, issued an internal memo to network staff following the shooting, which was shared via screenshots on X by Brian Stelter. In the message, Thompson acknowledged the trauma of the event, stating: “We know this was a frightening and disruptive situation for those in the room, and for your colleagues and loved ones watching live on CNN. Moments like this can stay with you in ways that aren’t necessarily immediate or obvious.” He urged staff to prioritize self-care and mutual support in the aftermath.

Luther Lowe, head of public policy at Y Combinator and husband of CBS journalist Weijia Jiang — who was onstage presiding over the event when the shooting began — expressed pride in his wife’s composure under pressure. Jiang remained on stage during the initial disruption and later took a front-row seat in the White House briefing room as officials prepared to address the nation. Lowe wrote on X: “So proud of @weijia. She was on the stage less than an hour ago presiding over the abrupt end of the dinner and now she’s in the front row of the White House briefing room waiting for the President to speak.”

Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, cofounders of the prediction market platform Kalshi, attended the event together. Mansour described the evening as initially a “great gathering of people from all sides” before the violence erupted, noting their gratitude toward law enforcement and the safety of the President and other attendees. Lara credited Mansour with protecting her during the chaos, writing on X: “If your co-founder isn’t protecting you in a shooting situation, find another one.”

Bilal Zuberi, founder of venture capital firm Red Glass Ventures, voiced concern over the broader pattern of threats to public officials, stating: “Pretty scary that our most important leaders of the government were at risk today. President Trump, Vice President Vance, and House Speaker Johnson were all in that room.” He emphasized that such attacks — whether domestic or international — are “abhorrent” and must be “vehemently opposed and condemned” by people everywhere.

Garry Tan, president and CEO of Y Combinator, recounted taking cover under a table during the incident, noting that Senator Marco Rubio inadvertently moved his chair while exiting quickly with Secret Service agents. Tan reflected on the uncertainty of the moment, saying: “As I was under the table with other attendees… I now know we were in no serious danger but in that moment I wondered how many shooters there were and what would mean for 2,000 people in that room.”

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, traditionally a gathering of journalists, politicians, and celebrities, has in recent years become a focal point for discussions about media, politics, and public safety. This year’s event took place amid heightened national security concerns following multiple incidents involving political figures in 2024 and 2025. The swift actions of the Secret Service and law enforcement were credited with preventing further harm, though the psychological impact on attendees and viewers continues to be processed.