President Donald Trump forcefully denied allegations referenced in a manifesto written by the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, using a televised interview to reject the claims and condemn their repetition. The remarks came during an April 26 appearance on 60 Minutes, one day after the incident disrupted the annual event in Washington.
The attack occurred on April 25 at the Washington Hilton, where a gunman identified as Cole Allen allegedly attempted to breach a security checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. Officials said the suspect intended to target members of the Trump administration, citing a manifesto sent to family members prior to the shooting. The event, attended by more than 2,500 guests, was quickly halted as Secret Service agents evacuated the president and other officials.
During the interview, Norah O’Donnell quoted a portion of the manifesto that included accusations against the president. Trump responded with an emphatic denial, stating, “Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you’re horrible people. Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.” Norah – “Oh, you think he was referring to you?” — Trump – “Excuse me. I’m not a pedophile. You read that crap from some sick person. I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated. Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, let’s say, Epstein or other things. But I said to myself, you know, I’ll do this interview and they’ll probably — I read the manifesto. You know, he’s a sick person. But you should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I’m not any of those things. Excuse me. Excuse me. You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace. But go ahead. Let’s finish the interview.”
The manifesto itself, according to investigators, outlined grievances against the administration and described a plan to target officials. While it did not explicitly name Trump in every passage, authorities said its language and structure indicated a focus on high-ranking members of the administration. The suspect also criticized security measures at the hotel, claiming vulnerabilities that he believed allowed him to approach the event.
Trump’s remarks during the interview emphasized his categorical rejection of the accusations, framing them as baseless claims originating from what he described as a “sick person.” The exchange highlighted ongoing scrutiny surrounding the manifesto and renewed attention to past controversies, even as officials continue to investigate the motives behind the attack.