Trump erupts at Norah O’Donnell in tense interview after WHCD shooting: ‘You’re a disgrace’
WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump criticized '60 Minutes' host Norah O’Donnell during an interview following the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting.
The US commander-in-chief sat down with O’Donnell on Sunday, April 26, to discuss the incident in which the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, opened fire during the event.
The accused stated in his manifesto that he's "longer willing to permit a traitor to coat my hands with his crimes".
Manifesto mention triggers tense Trump exchange
During one point in the interview, the correspondent mentioned Allen’s manifesto. “The so-called manifesto is a stunning thing to read, Mr President. He appears to reference a motive in it,” she began.
O’Donnell then quoted it: “Administration officials, they are targets.” The accused had also claimed that he’s “no longer willing to permit a traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
Trump calls Norah O'Donnell 'horrible person'
Trump grew visibly angry, saying, “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.”
O’Donnell, however, did not back down and continued, “Oh you think-- do you think he was referring to you?” making Trump angrier.
“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,” the 79-year-old leader claimed.
He further stated that he’s “read the manifesto. You know, he's a sick person,” before adding, “But you should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I'm not any of those things.”
Trump claims Norah O’Donnell is a 'disgraceful' person
O’Donnell then tried to justify herself, saying, “Mr president these are the gunman's words –”
“And I was never-- 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,” Trump said, once again asserting, “You-- you're disgraceful.”
Elsewhere during the interview, Trump mocked the suspect, calling him “pretty incompetent” after O’Donnell revealed that Allen had criticized the Secret Service.
In his manifesto, Allen had written, “I expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every ten feet, metal detectors out the wazoo. What I got is nothing. Like, this level of incompetence is insane.”
President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)But Trump responded, “He got caught pretty easily. So I'd say he was pretty incompetent too. You know, I can take any event having to do with security or anything else. I-- I can always find fault. Those guys did a good job last night. They did a really good job.”
