WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the moments following the first shotgun blast at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, the ballroom of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner dissolved into a scene of primal panic. But amidst the overturned tables and shouting security details, a brief exchange between two political opposites highlighted a rare moment of bipartisan survival.
Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), who does not have a standing security detail, found himself exposed as the crowd scrambled for exits. Amidst the rush, he spotted House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) being hurried away by his U.S. Capitol Police detail.
“Steve, can I come with you?” Moskowitz shouted over the noise.
According to Moskowitz, Scalise didn't hesitate. He looked at his security team and gave a three-word command: “Grab him.”
A Shared History of Violence
The image Moskowitz later shared on social media—a grainy, somber photo of the two men sitting side-by-side in a secure, windowless room—has since gone viral. For many, it serves as a stark reminder of the shared reality for lawmakers in an era of rising political threats.
Both men are no strangers to the sound of gunfire. Scalise was nearly killed in the 2017 congressional baseball shooting, an event that left him with lifelong physical reminders of political extremism. Moskowitz, a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has been a vocal advocate for gun safety following the Parkland massacre and was the target of a disrupted assassination plot in his home district just last year.
“There Was No Party”
“In that moment, there was no Republican or Democrat,” Moskowitz said in a statement following the incident. “There was just the reality that we were all in danger. Steve knew exactly what to do because he’s been there before. I’m grateful he didn’t think twice.”
The shooter, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, is currently in federal custody and is expected to be charged today. While the investigation into Allen’s motive continues, the story of Scalise and Moskowitz has become a symbol of resilience for a fractured Capitol.
As Washington recovers from the shock of the weekend, the "secure room" photo stands as a testament to a simple truth: when the sirens wail, the aisles of Congress are much narrower than they seem.