Trump renews attack on CBS reporter, says Norah O'Donnell is 'terrible' and 'overpaid'
WASHINGTON, DC: More than a week after his heated exchange with CBS journalist Norah O'Donnell over questions tied to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting,
President Donald Trump is still publicly going after the veteran reporter.
In his latest remarks to Salem News Channel on Monday, May 4, Trump dismissed O’Donnell in unusually personal terms, reviving a clash that has continued to generate fallout.
President Trump OBLITERATES CBS News’ Norah O'Donnell after she asked him about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooters’ manifesto: “She's terrible. I mean, she's interviewed me. She's a regular person that gets paid a lot of money. She's just, she's no different. I could… pic.twitter.com/wqe7qGIWFf
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) May 4, 2026
Trump doubles down on O’Donnell criticism
Speaking during an interview with host Hugh Hewitt, Trump made clear he had no regrets about staying in the interview despite being visibly frustrated by O’Donnell’s questioning.
When asked whether he had considered walking out, Trump said, “No, because then you make it a bigger story, actually.”
He then turned directly to O’Donnell herself.
“She’s terrible,” Trump said, before adding that she was “just a regular person that gets paid a lot of money.”
The president continued his criticism by saying, “There’s nothing special,” before arguing that almost anyone could do the same job.
Trump also pointed to the moment O’Donnell raised the alleged writings of the suspected gunman, saying he immediately knew where the conversation was headed.
“As soon as she said the word manifesto, I said, ‘Here we go with the nonsense again,’” he said, calling the accused shooter “a sick guy, a really deranged guy.”
The latest comments suggest Trump remains deeply irritated by the exchange, which quickly went viral and became one of the most discussed moments from the interview.
NEW: Norah O'Donnell plays dumb as Trump tears into her after she brought up how the shooting suspect called him a “r*pist” in his manifesto.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 26, 2026
O'Donnell: “He also wrote this: ‘I'm no longer willing to permit a ped*phile, rap*st, and traitor…’”
Trump: “I was waiting for you to… pic.twitter.com/t9tnqqrCGF
Trump's clash with Norah during CBS interview
The original clash happened during an interview with O’Donnell shortly after authorities announced charges against 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who investigators say forced his way past security at a Washington hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner before allegedly opening fire.
During that interview, O’Donnell brought up portions of Allen’s alleged manifesto, including disturbing accusations directed at Trump administration officials.
Trump reacted instantly, accusing the media of amplifying the words of a disturbed suspect.
“You’re horrible people, You should be ashamed of yourself reading that,” Trump fired back during the exchange.
O’Donnell later defended her questioning publicly, saying the questions surrounding the suspect’s motives and writings were “important” and “certainly newsworthy.”
Meanwhile, suspect Allen now faces multiple federal charges, including attempted assassination of the president.
