Trump Discusses White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting in CBS Interview

A gunman opened fire outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, prompting Secret Service agents to rush President Trump and the first lady off stage. The suspect, identified as Cole Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, was tackled at the scene and faces federal charges.

A Secret Service agent was shot but protected by a ballistic vest, with no other injuries reported. Allen had emailed family members a document described by officials as a manifesto shortly before the attack. " Investigators obtained a copy, which prioritized targets from highest-ranking to lowest.

In a CBS News "60 Minutes" interview aired Sunday, President Trump addressed the manifesto when questioned by correspondent Norah O'Donnell. He described the suspect as a "sick person" and denied the allegations, stating he was not a rapist or pedophile. Trump criticized O'Donnell for reading the excerpts, calling her "disgraceful" and the network "horrible people."

“Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you're— you're he— you're horrible people. Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I'm — I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody.”

Trump recounted the moment of the attack, noting loud bangs interrupted the event while he was seated next to the first lady and entertainer Oz Pearlman. He said he was not worried, adding, "We live in a crazy world." The president mentioned it took about 10 seconds for agents to surround him and 20 seconds to remove him from the stage, and he resisted initially to assess the situation.

Trump praised the dinner's "friendship" and "spirit" despite the disruption and urged the White House Correspondents' Association to reschedule within 30 days with enhanced security. He emphasized the importance of not allowing "a crazy person" to cancel the event, which celebrates the First Amendment.

This was the first such dinner Trump attended as president. The incident has sparked scrutiny of security at the venue. Attendees reported lax checks, with one journalist noting his ticket was barely examined and no ID or pat-down was required at initial entry points.

The Washington Hilton was also the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley, who recently commented that the hotel is not secure for large events due to repeated incidents. Hinckley, who shot Reagan and three others outside the hotel, told reporters that security was inadequate in 1981, allowing him to blend in without credentials.

He described learning of the recent shooting as "spooky" and suggested avoiding the venue for big gatherings.

The shooting occurred amid a podcast discussion noting the attack fueled new questions about Correspondents' Dinner protections. The event unfolded with guests diving under tables as shots rang out from the lobby. Agents returned fire, and the suspect was arrested but is reportedly not cooperating with authorities.

The incident echoes the 1981 attack, where Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity and later released in 2022 after apologizing to affected families. An editorial highlighted concerns over political violence, toxic rhetoric, polarization, and gun ubiquity in the U.S., noting the hotel's history.

Officials condemned the violence, emphasizing its seriousness in the context of American political traditions. President Trump reflected on the first lady's reaction, describing her as "very strong" and noting she appeared upset in footage. He compared the experience to prior incidents he faced, stating she handled it well despite it being new to her to this extent.