In a post on social media platform X, Leavitt said that everything had indicated the evening would be enjoyable, but it turned into the opposite. "What was supposed to be a fun evening at dinner with President Trump, who was making jokes and celebrating free speech, was hijacked by a deranged lunatic who tried to kill the president and take out as many senior Trump administration officials as possible," Leavitt said. She also stated that at the moment of the shooting, she went backstage with President Trump and his wife Melania. "President Trump was truly fearless, but as he said last night, this political violence must stop. Thank you to law enforcement for keeping us all safe, including the brave agent who took a bullet to the chest and immediately moved to neutralize the attacker. Pray for our country," the White House spokesperson concluded.