Donald Trump has denied being a rapist after a testy exchange with a CBS correspondent who read from the suspected gunman's manifesto during a 60 Minutes interview. The US president called the media 'horrible people' after Norah O'Donnell put to him segments of the document that referred to him as a 'rapist' and 'pedophile'.
The interview, which aired on Sunday night, focused on the shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday, where a gunman opened fire but did not breach the ballroom where Trump was seated. Trump described the events calmly, saying he 'wasn't worried' and that 'we live in a crazy world'. He admitted his curiosity may have slowed Secret Service efforts to rush him to safety.
When O'Donnell read from the alleged manifesto of suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, Trump reacted angrily, calling her a 'disgrace' and the media 'horrible people'. He stated, 'I'm not a rapist', and dismissed the suspect as 'a sick person'. The interview remained confrontational, with Trump criticising the press and accusing them of being 'soft on crime'.
Despite his criticism, Trump urged the White House Correspondents' Association to reschedule the dinner within 30 days, saying he did not want a 'crazy person' to cancel the event. The suspect, who was armed with knives, a shotgun and a handgun, was arrested after exchanging fire with law enforcement. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the shooting appeared politically motivated and may have targeted other administration officials.
