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.
“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.”
Longtime 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:
- WHCD suspect Cole Allen took smirking selfie while armed to the teeth before attack on ballroom: docs
- UnitedHealthcare fires hateful staffer over vile comment about failed Trump assassination: ‘Aww, they missed?’
- Stunning hot-mic moment captures TV host ripping security at WHCD before shooting: ‘Two random chicks’
- Jimmy Kimmel repeats ‘hateful’ joke about ‘expectant widow’ Melania Trump in attempt to defend himself after WHCD shooting
Colleagues 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.
He 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.
