Trump was a 'caged lion' roaring to return to WHCA Dinner ballroom after shooting, Leavitt says

"He was like a caged lion backstage, like just roaring to get out, like, 'We gotta go back out there,'" she said. "And I'm sitting there like, 'I don't know if I want to go back out there.'"

Guests dived under tables as the gala, meant to celebrate White House correspondents, descended into chaos.

Yet, Leavitt said, the president was eager to return to the ballroom and willing to wait hours for the event to resume.

"[Trump] really was asking hard questions of his detail, like, 'Why can't I go? I will wait all night. I don't care if it's 3 in the morning, get it started,'" Leavitt shared.

The former White House spokeswoman said officials even began making preparations to resume the dinner as she described Trump's impatience to make a public statement immediately after the incident.

"[Trump] wanted to say something and the best way to say it was in the briefing room. And we did," Leavitt said.

Trump held a news conference at the White House later that night alongside top administration members, recounting how the shooting unfolded.

Leavitt's full interview on the latest "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" will be available Tuesday on YouTube, Spotify and Apple.