President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell during a taped '60 Minutes' interview Sunday, accusing her of being 'disgraceful' for reading aloud portions of the manifesto allegedly written by the gunman who targeted the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
'I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you're horrible people. Horrible people,' Trump told O'Donnell, according to the transcript. The confrontation came as O'Donnell cited the suspect's writings, which included claims that administration officials were 'targets' and referred to the president as a 'pedophile, rapist, and traitor.' Trump denied the accusations, saying, 'I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody. I'm not a pedophile.'
The interview, scheduled before the Saturday night attack, shifted to focus on the security breach at the Washington Hilton. The suspect, identified by multiple outlets as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, allegedly exchanged gunfire with law enforcement before being apprehended. A Secret Service agent was injured but saved by a bulletproof vest, and officials later confirmed the existence of a manifesto targeting administration officials, as reported in our earlier coverage.
Trump defended his reaction during the shooting, saying he resisted evacuation to see what was happening. 'I wanted to see what was going on,' he said, later describing the gunman as 'pretty incompetent' for being captured quickly. The president also called for the WHCA dinner to be rescheduled within the month, arguing that allowing a 'crazy person' to cancel the event would be detrimental.
The exchange escalated when O'Donnell read the suspect's anti-Christian rhetoric alongside anti-Trump posts. Trump challenged her, asking why she didn't read all the anti-Trump comments. 'You just did, so why don't you read it?' he said, accusing her of bias. The president also reiterated his stance that he was 'totally exonerated' from the allegations in the manifesto.
The incident has sparked broader debate about press coverage and security at political events. Some lawmakers are calling for tighter security measures following the breach, while others have praised the Secret Service's response. Trump's criticism of O'Donnell reflects his ongoing tension with mainstream media, a theme that has defined his political career.
Despite the heated exchange, Trump said he 'wasn't worried' about potential injuries during the attack. 'I understand life. We live in a crazy world,' he remarked. The WHCA dinner was canceled after the evacuation, and the suspect faces charges. Trump has since blamed the shooting on anti-Christian hatred, linking it to broader cultural divisions.
O'Donnell continued the interview after Trump's outburst, pressing on the suspect's social media activity. The full '60 Minutes' segment aired Sunday evening, drawing sharp reactions from both supporters and critics of the president.
