President Donald Trump, in an interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell on 60 Minutes, described the gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner as a “blur” and joked that the NFL “should sign him up.” The remarks came as the White House confirmed the attack was an assassination attempt targeting Trump and senior administration officials.
“His speed was rather incredible. Actually, it was, it was like a blur,” Trump told O'Donnell, reflecting on the moment the suspect breached security at the Washington Hilton. The president added, “I mean, he ran like — I think the NFL should sign him up — he was fast. When you look at it on tape, it’s almost like a blur.”
O'Donnell pressed Trump on how the assailant managed to get so close despite heavy security. The president responded, “I will say, look, I say it because I’m a big fan of the people of law enforcement. And, you know, some of these people, they may be crazy, but they’re not stupid, and they figure things out. He ran 45 yards, they say, and he just went to it, and then, boom, he popped through it.”
Saturday's attack unfolded shortly after the WHCA dinner began when a heavily armed man, identified by multiple media outlets as Cole Allen from Torrance, California, rushed through security at the Hilton. He exchanged gunfire with law enforcement before being subdued. No one else was injured, but the incident sent shockwaves through the political establishment.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the event was “hijacked by a depraved crazy person who sought to assassinate the President and kill as many top Trump administration officials as possible.” The suspect is expected to appear in federal court Monday, as detailed in a related report on the court proceedings.
Trump's comments, which included a lighthearted quip about the shooter's speed, have drawn scrutiny from critics who question the tone of his response to a serious security breach. The president, however, also voiced support for the Secret Service and has ordered a security review to prevent future incidents.
The shooting at the Washington Hilton carries eerie historical echoes—it was at the same hotel where John Hinckley Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981. The location's significance has not been lost on security experts, with some urging Trump to limit cabinet appearances at large public events.
As the investigation continues, political leaders are grappling with how to address the rising threat of political violence. Representative Greg Hamadeh has called for tighter security at such gatherings, while Representative Ro Khanna has pushed for a bipartisan panel to examine the broader issue. The Justice Department is also pressuring a preservation group to drop a lawsuit over the Trump ballroom, a move tied to the aftermath of the shooting.
