Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) launched a blistering attack on CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell Monday, accusing her of crossing a line by reading the manifesto of the man accused of attempting a mass shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
In a post on X, Gingrich wrote that O'Donnell may have hit a new low with what he described as “disgusting and inhumane demagoguery disguised as journalism.” He argued that broadcasting the suspect's words gave them a platform they did not deserve, especially given that the gunman was stopped by the Secret Service before he could carry out a deadly attack.
“The idea that you would take the vicious dishonest and disgusting words of a would-be killer who had been blocked by the Secret Service but would otherwise have killed a lot of people and you would dignify them by putting them on the air and asking the President of the United States to comment is about as destructive as anything a major reporter has done in a long time,” Gingrich added.
The criticism came after President Donald Trump, in a 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday, went after O'Donnell for reading the suspect's reported manifesto. Trump told her, “I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you’re horrible people. Horrible people,” and later called her “disgraceful.”
The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen, faces three federal charges for allegedly trying to disrupt the annual black-tie event, which brings together journalists and public officials. He did not enter a plea. According to court documents, Allen ran through security at the Washington Hilton shortly after the dinner began, exchanging gunfire with law enforcement before being taken into custody.
Multiple outlets, including CBS News, reported that Allen had written a manifesto indicating he planned to target administration officials. The White House has confirmed the document’s authenticity. The shooting has intensified debate over security protocols at the event, with the Washington Hilton defending its response amid scrutiny.
Gingrich’s remarks align with a broader conservative backlash against media coverage of the suspect’s writings. Critics argue that airing such material risks inspiring copycats and granting notoriety to a would-be attacker. Supporters of the decision say it provides crucial context about the suspect’s motives and the threat he posed.
The Hill has reached out to CBS for comment on the controversy. The WHCA dinner, a storied Washington tradition, has become a flashpoint for political tensions, with the shooting prompting condemnations of political violence from figures across the spectrum.
