Donald Trump has lashed out at CBS News after the network aired excerpts from a suspected gunman's manifesto that branded the US president a 'rapist' and 'paedophile'. In a testy interview on 60 Minutes, Trump called correspondent Norah O'Donnell a 'disgrace' and the media 'horrible people' for reading the inflammatory remarks on air.
The interview, which aired on Sunday, focused on Trump's experience during a shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday night. A gunman, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California, opened fire outside the ballroom where Trump was attending the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Secret Service officers escorted Trump and the first lady to safety after shots were exchanged.
Trump said he was 'not worried' during the incident and admitted he had slowed Secret Service efforts by wanting to see what was happening. 'I wasn’t making it that easy for them,' he said. 'I wanted to see what was going on.' The president praised his security detail but noted that he and Melania Trump were told to hit the floor before being evacuated.
Allen, who was armed with knives, a shotgun, and a handgun, was arrested after a confrontation with police. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the attack appeared politically motivated and may have targeted multiple administration officials. Authorities recovered a 1,100-word document, described as a manifesto, in which Allen railed against Trump and allegedly called him a 'rapist' and 'paedophile'.
When O'Donnell read those excerpts on air, Trump interrupted, calling her 'horrible' and accusing the media of being 'soft on crime'. He insisted he is not a rapist and dismissed the gunman as a 'sick person'. Despite his criticism, Trump urged the White House Correspondents' Association to reschedule the dinner, saying, 'I don't want to see it be canceled. I think it’s really bad for a crazy person to be able to cancel something like this.'
