Reporters scurry around in panic after mouse falls out of White House ceiling on correspondent's lap during briefing
Although the daily White House briefings are more-or-less a formal affair, correspondents present at Tuesday's briefing were sent into a temporary panic after a mouse fell out of the ceiling onto a reporter's lap.
NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander tweeted saying that the rodent “literally fell out of the ceiling” and onto his lap. The tweet was followed by an array of updates from a number of reporters, who immediately found themselves on a mouse-hunt as they scrambled to locate the creature inside the press briefing room.
Reuters correspondent Steve Holland tweeted photos of White House reporters abandoning their usual inquiries about President Donald Trump's actions - in the middle of a potential impeachment no less - and running around the space to find the rodent. Many of them were also seen whipping out their phones with an amused expression on their faces, trying to capture the rare moment on their cameras.
For quite a while the mouse managed to evade being captured as it ran around the press equipment and hid under the tables and the booth.
"The most excitement in the White House briefing room in months. Reporters attempt to capture a baby mouse that fell on @PeterAlexander lap moments ago" Senior White House Reporter for NBC News Digital, Shannon Pettypiece, tweeted.
CNBC correspondent Eamon Javers tweeted, "Status update: a mouse has escaped the office area, now running free in WH press briefing room. Chase underway."
NBC News producer Elyse PG tweeted out a video of the mouse hopping over and under equipment kept in the briefing room. People in the backdrop could be heard saying "Oh my god" and "He's coming through this side. He's coming through a hole in the wall."
According to the Hill, the mouse was reportedly never caught. The White House has not commented on the incident.