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Trump Just Responded To The Correspondents' Dinner Shooter's Manifesto—And Norah O'Donnell's Reaction Is Priceless
Saturday night was to have been the first time Trump attended the WHCD as a sitting President.
He had previously attended in 2011, when Democratic President Barack Obama famously mocked him (as seen below), and then again in 2015 when Trump was also the butt of several jokes.
Throughout Trump's first term as President, he eschewed the WHCD, called for hosts to be canceled, and mocked the annual event online to the delight of his MAGA minions. He skipped the 2025 event as well.
It came as a surprise that Trump planned to not only attend this year's WHCD, but was slated to speak. On the red carpet that night, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared "shots will be fired" in the room and that the POTUS wrote his own "classic Donald J. Trump" speech.
But around 8:30pm, an alleged assassin exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, and the WHCD attendees, which included most of the Trump's administration, were evacuated.
By Sunday, the alleged assassin's manifesto was released to the press.
Norah O'Donnell asked Trump for his reaction to the manifesto during her 60 Minutes interview. But when O'Donnell read from it, the POTUS acted as if O'Donnell herself was attacking him.
O'Donnell read:
"I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes..."
Trump lashed out, saying:
"I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people. Horrible people."
You can see the moment here:
The visibly angry POTUS added:
"Yeah, he did write that."
"I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody."
O'Donnell interjected:
"Oh, do you think he was referring to you?"
Seemingly ignoring her question, Trump stated again:
"I’m not a pedophile."
Trump seemed triggered by his own interpretation that the manifesto was referring to his longtime friendships with registered sex offender and indicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Or to the more than 28 women who publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct.
Or to the 2024 ruling that Trump was liable for defamation when he called one of his rape accusers a liar or to when his late first wife Ivana Trump accused him of marital rape during a 1989/1990 divorce deposition.
Neither the manifesto nor O'Donnell ever mentioned Epstein, Maxwell, or Trump by name in that passage. But, as the saying goes, a hit dog will holler.
Trump said:
"You read that crap from some sick person. I got associated with stuff that has nothing to do with me."
Trump then repeated a lie he frequently tells in regards to allegations against him:
"I was totally exonerated."
Trump has been convicted of multiple crimes, amassing 34 felonies, as well as being found liable in the defamation suit brought by E. Jean Carroll after he repeatedly called her a liar for saying he raped her. The judge ruled Trump's actions legally matched the definition of sexual assault and ordered he pay Carroll $88.3 million for saying she lied about the rape.
Trump has not yet been totally exonerated in any case allowed to be investigated fully. Unactionable ethical, criminal, constitutional, regulatory, or civil violations aren't total exonerations.
Trump later told O'Donnell:
"You should be ashamed of yourself for reading that, because I’m not any of those things. You shouldn’t be reading that on ‘60 Minutes.’ You’re a disgrace."
People were unsurprised Trump knew the manifesto was about himself even without his name being used.
The overwhelming majority, across social media, seem to believe Trump was somehow involved with criminal sexual acts.
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Several people noted that Trump never denied the labels of traitor or criminal from the same manifesto excerpt.
Maybe he's saving that outrage for his next interview.
Trump Just Shared Why He's Actually 'Honored' By The Multiple Attempts On His Life—And Yikes
After Trump and various officials from the Trump administration and law enforcement spoke, the press was allowed to ask questions as the POTUS stood flanked by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and current FBI Director Kash Patel.
An unidentified reporter mentioned rumors that the gunman assembled a weapon on-site, then asked if he could add a second question.
The reporter then asked:
"Why do you think this keeps happening?"
Trump stated:
"Well, you know, I've studied assassinations, and I must tell you the most impactful people, the people who do the most, take a look at Abraham Lincoln ... the people that make the biggest impact, they're the ones that they go after. They don't go after the ones that don't do much."
Trump often enjoys comparing himself to Lincoln or trying to associate himself with the Kennedy family legacy, such as appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his Secretary of Health and Human Services. But Trump's assassination studies apparently missed that James A. Garfield and William McKinley—hardly on anyone's list of top 10 Presidents—were also assassinated.
Trump continued:
"And when you look at the people where there was an attempt or a successful attempt, they're very impactful people. They're big names."
The POTUS bragged:
"I hate to say I'm honored by that, but I've done a lot, we've done a lot ... we were the laughing stock for years and now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world."
You can see his comments here:
People were appalled Trump could act so cavalier about situations where others were killed or injured.
Corey Comperatore was killed and two others critically injured during the first alleged assassination attempt on July 13, 2024. Mia Rosalie Monreal, a 6-year-old girl, received life-threatening injuries during the apprehension of the alleged Mar-a-Lago assassin in September 2024.
One officer was struck by at least one bullet on Saturday, but his vest protected them and they are expected to recover fully.
Others were unsurprised Trump turned deadly events into a way to boost his own ego and questioned the circumstances of the attack.
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Almost all modern Presidents face credible threats throughout their presidencies. But it's telling that only Trump has several that seem so poorly handled.
There was an alleged sniper in Pennsylvania during his 2024 presidential campaign. The situation left many with questions, including why the alleged gunman was able to get a sniper location set up at an event secured by law enforcement and a then presidential candidate/former President's Secret Service detail.
The incident produced a much exploited photo-op where those around Trump ducked down leaving the former POTUS fully exposed, instead of the usual bodily covering of the assumed target. There was also Trump’s miracle ear.
A lack of information or follow-up has led to widespread rumors and speculation that the incident was staged to boost Trump at a time when incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden was leading in the 2024 presidential polls.
Then an alleged assassin was allowed near Trump's Florida home turned paid membership resort that he travels to almost weekly. But other Presidents haven't spent almost every weekend at a place the public can rent as a wedding venue and where resort members and their guests are allowed daily access.
Now an unsecured hotel, where multiple people reported no increased security existed except at the entrances to the rooms specifically being used for the WHCD event, is the site of the latest incident.
Leading many to question, is Trump more popular with assassins, more careless with his security and the security of those around him, or—as conspiracy theorists claim—is something else going on?
A thorough investigation would be required to find out, but no one expects the Trump administration to be forthcoming anytime soon.
After all, people are still waiting for the full evidentiary files—compiled by Trump's Department of Justice during his first term to indict and arrest his longtime friends Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell—to be released.
And there's a federal law requiring that to happen.
Trump Slammed After Using Correspondents' Dinner Shooting As Reason For Why He 'Needs' To Build His New Ballroom
He had previously attended in 2011 and 2015, but railed against the event for years after being the butt of jokes told by Democratic President Barack Obama and a number of comedians.
A little after 8:30pm on Saturday night, after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quipped to Fox News there would be "shots fired" during the WHCD, shots were fired in the Washington Hilton where the event was taking place, but not in the rooms being used for the WHCD.
Trump and members of his administration were taken from the Hilton. They convened at the White House where the Trump administration was able to quickly prepare remarks and gather participants for a press conference.
Trump spoke flanked by embattled FBI Director Kash Patel and newly-appointed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
You can watch the full 31-minute press conference here:
One of Trump's primary focuses was making the claim that the night's shooting was proof that his vanity project, a $400 million golden ballroom attached to the White House, was an absolute necessity. Trump claimed the military and Secret Service have wanted, even demanded, a ballroom for 150 years.
You can see a clip of his comments here:
Trump stated the event would be rescheduled, but he'd tone down his material, saying:
"...we're going to be doing one hopefully within the next 30 days or sooner. And I am ready, willing, and able. And I was all set to really rip it. And I said to my people, 'This would be the most inappropriate speech ever made if I said what.'"
"So I'll have to save it. I don't know if I could ever be as rough as I was going to be tonight. I think I'm going to be probably very nice. I'll be very boring the next time. But we're going to have a great event."
Trump also claimed he fought to remain at the Hilton and continue the event, stating:
"We wanted to stay tonight. I will tell you, I fought like Hell to stay. But it was protocol."
His comments hurled gasoline on the flames of conspiracy theories already running rampant online.
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Many noted how quickly the calls for the ballroom were posted by MAGA minions and right-wing bots.
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The Trump administration also garnered widespread mockery for the POTUS's priorities.
Even serious pundits called foul over Trump's remarks.
In a statement, Secret Service Chief of Communications Antony Guglielmi said:
"The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The President and the First Lady are safe along with all protectees.
"One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation."
One police officer was shot during the event and taken to the hospital, but was protected by a bulletproof vest.
The investigation is reportedly ongoing, but with the lack of information released after each of Trump's previous alleged assassination attempts, people aren't expecting much this time either.