Sen. Chuck Grassley gave the White House Correspondents’ Dinner a hard pass, staying home to protect the line of succession from catastrophe.
The 92-year-old Iowa Republican is third in line to the presidency — the Senate’s president pro tempore is behind only the vice president and speaker of the House — and the highest-ranking person in the succession to skip Saturday night’s near-tragic shindig.
Deranged shooter Cole Allen opened fire at the DC Hilton gala as he tried to take out the president and top officials, authorities said.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) went to his home state rather than attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He told The Post he was “absolutely” prepared to run the country in the event of a tragedy. Getty Images
Suspect Cole Allen is seen running through a hotel security checkpoint amid the shooting that unfolded with uniformed police officers and US Secret Service agents during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. US Attorney for the District of Colombia/AFP via Getty Images
Guests take cover after President Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner by Secret Service agents after a loud, unidentified noise, on April 25, 2026. REUTERS“If I was invited, I didn’t want to go,” Grassley told The Post in an interview this week just off the Senate floor.
“As long as I wasn’t there, there’s no problem. You understand why that’s the case,” continued Grassley, who was elected in the Ronald Reagan GOP landslide of 1980. “Listen, I was in Iowa, like I’m supposed to be.”
In his rambling manifesto, Allen, 31, allegedly announced plans to wipe out top figures in the administration.
In addition to Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson attended the gala, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. All were swiftly whisked to safety.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that having a “designated survivor” wasn’t necessary that night “as we had several members [in the succession line] who were not there already.”
Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. via REUTERS
The government says suspect Cole Allen intended to try to assassinate President Trump and top officials at the dinner. Getty Images
Agents escorted Vice President JD Vance out of the room immediately after shots were fired. APLongtime colleague Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), vouched for Grassley, who chairs the Judiciary Committee.
“I’d be happy to have Chuck Grassley in charge if the occasion was required, but I hope that will never happen,” Cornyn quipped.
Here’s the latest on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner:
- Intelligence report points to chilling potential motive for alleged WHCD shooter
- WHCD gunman Cole Allen faces life in prison for alleged attempt to assassinate President Trump: docs
- Star actor accuses Jimmy Kimmel of fueling ‘hatred’ toward Trump after White House dinner shooting
- Judge apologizes to WHCD shooting suspect Cole Allen over jail conditions
Donald Pearsall / NY Post DesignColleagues say Grassley remains sharp after 45 years in the chamber, which makes him the longest serving Republican in its history.
Grassley has a long practice of closely tending to his Iowa constituents, and is back home this weekend, where a son now helps him manage the family farm. He lives with his wife of 71 years, Barbara.
Farm team: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who falls lower down in the line of succession, also skipped the dinner. Getty ImagesHe still gets up at 4 am each morning, goes for a walk and comes in at 6, opening the Senate chamber when it is in session. The oatmeal-loving lawmaker used to run three miles a day.
He does have trouble hearing out of one ear, but otherwise issues regular impromptu pronouncements on hot topics like James Comey’s indictment.
Asked if he is ready to run the country if it comes to it, Grassley did not hesitate.
“Absolutely,” he said.
