Who is Michael Glantz, the attendee who kept eating during White House dinner chaos
At the White House Correspondents' Dinner, attendees ducked after reports of gunshots while Michael Glantz stayed seated and ate his salad. His reasons have amused the internet.
Gunfire scare, guests on the floor and one man finishing his salad at the table. Michael Glantz, the White House Correspondents' Dinner attendee, who went viral for calmly eating, has explained why he refused to duck for cover.
Identified by WHCInsider editor Tammy Haddad, Glantz who represents Creative Artists Agency (CAA), shared the reason behind his calm response in the middle of chaos that has amused the internet in equal measure.
As reports of gunshots triggered panic inside the venue, attendees were seen ducking under tables while security personnel moved swiftly through the room. But Glantz remained seated, casually eating his salad, an image that quickly made the rounds online.
When asked about his reaction, Glantz offered an explanation that was as deadpan as his demeanour. “Born and raised in New York. It didn’t scare me at all,” he said. “I just didn’t want to miss the show.”
He went on to add, with characteristic candour, that getting under the table was never really an option. “One, I have a bad back. I couldn’t get down on the floor. Two, I’m a hygiene freak. There’s no way I’m putting my tux on the dirty floor. So it wasn’t going to happen,” he said, explaining why he chose to stay put while others took cover.
Watch the video here:
The internet, naturally, had a field day.
Users flooded social media with reactions, dubbing him everything from “the calmest man in the room” to someone who clearly had his “priorities sorted.” Some joked that he refused to waste a high-end meal, while others suggested his composure reflected complete trust in the security arrangements.
The evening itself, however, was far from light-hearted. The annual dinner, held in the Washington Hilton, was disrupted after reports of gunfire near the venue prompted a swift security response. US President Donald Trump, along with the First Lady and Vice President, were evacuated as a precaution.
Gunfire scare, guests on the floor and one man finishing his salad at the table. Michael Glantz, the White House Correspondents' Dinner attendee, who went viral for calmly eating, has explained why he refused to duck for cover.
Identified by WHCInsider editor Tammy Haddad, Glantz who represents Creative Artists Agency (CAA), shared the reason behind his calm response in the middle of chaos that has amused the internet in equal measure.
As reports of gunshots triggered panic inside the venue, attendees were seen ducking under tables while security personnel moved swiftly through the room. But Glantz remained seated, casually eating his salad, an image that quickly made the rounds online.
When asked about his reaction, Glantz offered an explanation that was as deadpan as his demeanour. “Born and raised in New York. It didn’t scare me at all,” he said. “I just didn’t want to miss the show.”
He went on to add, with characteristic candour, that getting under the table was never really an option. “One, I have a bad back. I couldn’t get down on the floor. Two, I’m a hygiene freak. There’s no way I’m putting my tux on the dirty floor. So it wasn’t going to happen,” he said, explaining why he chose to stay put while others took cover.
Watch the video here:
The internet, naturally, had a field day.
Users flooded social media with reactions, dubbing him everything from “the calmest man in the room” to someone who clearly had his “priorities sorted.” Some joked that he refused to waste a high-end meal, while others suggested his composure reflected complete trust in the security arrangements.
The evening itself, however, was far from light-hearted. The annual dinner, held in the Washington Hilton, was disrupted after reports of gunfire near the venue prompted a swift security response. US President Donald Trump, along with the First Lady and Vice President, were evacuated as a precaution.
