The president appeared on CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday evening, a day after a shooting unfolded at a dinner event he attended
19:20 ET, 26 Apr 2026Updated 20:09 ET, 26 Apr 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump conducted a last-minute 60 Minutes interview a day after a shooting unfolded at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday
U.S. President Donald Trump firmly declared, “‘I’m not a rapist” in response to the suspected WHCD shooters’ alleged manifesto during an appearance on CBS News’ 60 Minutes.
The president made the bold remark Sunday while sitting down with CBS News senior correspondent Norah O’Donnell, a day after a shooting unfolded at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. At the annual event, a gunman opened fire near the venue at the Washington Hilton Hotel, sparking mass panic and confusion as the president was rushed out of the room by the Secret Service and attendees, including prominent politicians and media figures, ducked under tables for cover.
A bulletproof vest-wearing Secret Service agent was shot in the chest while pursuing the suspect, who has since been identified as 31-year-old California teacher, Cole Allen, who was detained and slapped with felony charges after he was evaluated at a hospital.
READ MORE: Cole Allen’s chilling threat to sister and trips to gun range before WHCD shooting revealedREAD MORE: White House considering bulletproof vest for Donald Trump after WHCA shooting
The Secret Service agent was released from the hospital and no other injuries were reported in the incident, which authorities are describing as another likely attempt on Trump’s life.
Officials said the suspect, who was staying as a guest at the hotel, charged through a security checkpoint at the hotel while armed with a shotgun, a handgun and knives before he was detained.
Sources claim that Allen wrote a “manifesto” that allegedly revealed his intentions of targeting administration officials, “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest…. not including [FBI Director] Mr. Patel” and authorities, “only if necessary,” CBS News reports. Allen allegedly gave the manifesto to family members, one of whom alerted authorities to its existence.
O’Donnell noted that the suspect’s alleged manifesto, though never naming Trump, stated his fierce opposition to the Trump administration and alluded to crimes that the president is accused of committing.
“I’m no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” the alleged manifesto reads, seemingly referring to fresh allegations made against the president that have come to light amid the release of the Epstein files, among other previous allegations and felony convictions, including being found liable for sexual abuse of writer E. Jean Carroll in May 2023. He was not found guilty of rape allegations in the case, and he maintains his innocence against all the charges.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Trump has never been charged with any crimes connected to the late pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, and fiercely denies any wrongdoing.
Asked for his reaction to the note, Trump said to O’Donnell, “I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you’re horrible people.”
He declared, “I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody. I’m not a pedophile,” he said. O’Donnell asked if he thought that line in the manifesto was directed at him, to which Trump replied, “Excuse me. Excuse me. I’m not a pedophile.”
Trump went on to describe the manifesto as “crap from some sick person,” adding that he “got associated with all this stuff that has nothing to do with me,” including Epstein.
“I was totally exonerated,” Trump declared, seemingly in reference to allegations made against him of rape of an underage girl found in recently released U.S. Justice Department files connected to Epstein. He also suggests that only Democrats are connected to Epstein.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, reading that, because I’m not any of those things,” he told O’Donnell, to which she interjected and reminded the president that she was quoting from the suspect’s manifesto as an impartial journalist.
“Excuse me,” he said, cutting her off and shutting down her defense again. “You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace. But, go ahead, let’s finish the interview.”
Sign up to our FREE newsletter and get the top stories to your inbox
DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.