Trump recounts chaos and defiance after shooting at WHCA dinner
"I wasn't worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world," Trump declared in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes.
The U.S. leader also commented on First Lady Melania Trump's reaction—she was seated at the head table when gunshots rang out and attendees at the Hilton hotel ballroom began diving under tables for cover.
"People don't like to admit they were scared, but who wouldn't be in a situation like that? At that moment, I think she realized right away it was a bullet, not a tray hitting the floor," Trump explained, noting that he initially thought the commotion was caused by a dropped tray.
He said the first lady "seemed very shaken by what had just happened" but described her as a "very strong and intelligent" woman.
"I've been through this before, but she hasn't—not at this level. She handled it very well," he added.
Trump also recounted his own reaction when the Secret Service rushed into the ballroom.
"I wanted to see what was happening. And at that point, we started to realize this might be a serious problem—a different kind of problem," he told 60 Minutes.
The former president grew irritated with interviewer Norah O'Donnell when she read an excerpt from the manifesto of Cole Allen, the man allegedly armed with a rifle and knives who reportedly attempted to attack Trump and other U.S. officials.
O'Donnell read: "I am no longer willing to let a pedophile, a rapist, and a traitor soil my hands with his crimes"—an apparent reference to Trump and his alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
"I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would—because you're terrible people. I'm not a rapist. I haven't raped anyone. I'm not a pedophile. You just read that garbage written by some sick person. They've associated me with things I have nothing to do with. I've been totally exonerated," Trump fired back.
When asked whether the incident—which occurred during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner—might improve his strained relationship with the press, the Republican stressed that he still has deep disagreements with the media.
"We don't agree on a lot of issues—we're talking about crime. I'm very tough on crime. It seems the press isn't. It's not just the press—it's the press and the Democrats, because they're almost the same thing," he said, insisting he wants to hold the dinner again within 30 days.
The event, he promised, will have "even more security."
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