Journalist Explains Why Vance Was Escorted From WHCD First, and It Says a Lot About Trump

The law enforcement reaction to the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting is getting a lot of scrutiny. 

One of the questions many seemed to have was: why was Vice President JD Vance rushed out of the room before President Donald Trump was? You can see that here, in a post from Fox's Jacqui Heinrich.

Here's what White House correspondent for Diario ABC, David Alandete,

 

 said about the events. 

I was right there. I saw everything. 

The reason JD Vance left earlier through a different door from Trump's is that he was alone. 

On the other side of the table were the president, the first lady, and the press secretary, who was very pregnant.

 

The Secret Service immediately created a security perimeter to get them out. Trump, who doesn't let himself get carried away easily, demanded explanations. He wanted to know what was happening, ordered that the first lady's evacuation be prioritized, asked that the journalists be removed, and decided to leave on his own two feet but making sure to get the press secretary out first. He didn't want to duck down. He fell briefly after a shove from the agents and left the room on foot.

Now, that's pretty brave of Trump, and I think the Secret Service always has to think about getting him out first.

But it says a lot about him that he wanted to prioritize his wife and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before himself. He has real courage under fire, as he showed in Butler. Leavitt had just had her last briefing on Friday because she's about to have the baby this week, and is going to be taking time off. 

Melania had a look of shock on her face when she realized what was going on. Trump indicated that she had probably gotten it before he did, and he said it was traumatic for her.

 

Trump said that immediately, Melania Trump recognized the sound as a 'bad noise,' adding that 'it was a rather traumatic experience for her.' 

'Melania was very cognizant,' he continued.

The President also shared his wife's fear for his safety given the multiple assassination attempts against him. 

'The first lady was doing a terrific job. She loves the country. She recognizes it better than any. But she told me numerous times, she said "you are in a dangerous job."'

It has to be hard on her at this point to have to keep going through this, and then this time to be there personally. 

As we reported, Trump also tried to reassure people, holding a briefing immediately after at the White House and calling for unity, saying they would have the event again, and they would not let bad people stop it. He also subsequently even called up a reporter who's had pretty negative coverage of him, to make sure he was okay.