Trump says ‘I’m not a paedophile, you’re horrible’ as reporter reads shooter manifesto

Donald Trump lashed out at CBS journalist Norah O’Donnell during a 60 Minutes interview after she quoted from the suspected gunman’s manifesto following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

Donald Trump launched a furious outburst against a journalist after she cited excerpts from the suspected shooter’s manifesto during a 60 Minutes interview following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

Trump, his wife and other senior administration officials were rushed to safety by Secret Service agents as attendees sought shelter beneath tables in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton after gunfire erupted on Saturday.

One officer was struck but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is anticipated to recover completely. The authorities suspect the assault on the black-tie gathering was targeted at Trump and other high-ranking government officials. The individual accused of opening fire, named as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, is reported to have sent messages to relatives moments before the shooting in which he described himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and expressed complaints about the US administration’s conduct. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Trump slammed CBS presenter Norah O’Donnell when she quoted from the document allegedly sent by the suspect just before the attack – in which Allen referenced a “peadophile, rapist, and traitor” – Trump erupted.

“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. I’m not a paedophile. Excuse me. Excuse me. I’m not a paedophile. 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.”, reports the Mirror.

“Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, lets say, Epstein or other things. But I said to myself, ‘You know, I’ll do this interview and they’ll probably … read the manifesto’. But you should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I’m not any of those things.”

Allen identified his targets as “administration officials: prioritised from highest-ranking to lowest” – though he seemingly excluded FBI Director Kash Patel from his list. Apparently referencing Trump, Allen wrote: “I am no longer willing to permit a paedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”

Authorities also uncovered anti-Trump and anti-Christian material on Allen’s social media profiles. In what is reported to have been supplied to officials by his brother, Allen allegedly penned: “Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person raped in a detention camp.

“I’m not the fisherman executed without trial. I’m not a schoolkid blown up, or a child starved, or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when someone else is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.”

Trump revealed the First Lady was clearly disturbed by the shooting. When questioned whether she had been frightened, he responded: “Well, I don’t wanna say, and people don’t like having it said that they were scared. But certainly, I mean, who wouldn’t be when you have a situation like that?

“By that time I think she realized ahead of time that that was more of a bullet than it was a tray. And she was … I looked at her face just a little while ago before I came. I saw the scene.

“They played it for me and, you know, pretty good closeup. And she looked very upset about what just took place, you know? Why not?”

Trump continued by stating that Melania had handled the circumstances with resilience and poise. “She handled it great. I mean, she was, she’s very strong, smart. She got it. She knew what was happening. She listened. I did too, by the way.”