Full Breakdown
Trump Confronted Over Gunman's Manifesto in 60 Minutes Interview
4/28/2026, 1:32:41 AM
Core Event: 60 Minutes Confrontation
On Sunday, 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell cited a line from the manifesto of Cole Thomas Allen, the gunman who attacked the Correspondents’ Dinner, and asked President Donald Trump. Trump denied the accusations, said he was not a rapist or pedophile, and called his critics “horrible people.”
Background and Timeline
Allen stormed the Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, issuing a manifesto that called Trump a “pedophile, rapist, and traitor.” O’Donnell’s interview aired the next day. A 2023 civil jury awarded $5 million to journalist E. Jean Carroll after finding Trump liable for sexual abuse, underscoring ongoing legal scrutiny.
Key Figures & Groups
Key figures include President Donald Trump; 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell; alleged gunman Cole Thomas Allen; journalist E. Jean Carroll, awarded $5 million in a civil case; and deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, whose image with Trump was projected at the dinner.
Impact and Significance
The interview revived scrutiny of Trump’s alleged sexual misconduct and highlighted political fallout from the dinner shooting, as O’Donnell’s questioning forced a public denial that may shape public opinion and legal narratives.
Official Statements & Responses
Trump rejected the manifesto’s accusations, denying any rapist or pedophile label and asserting he had been exonerated, while also suggesting that associates of his were involved with Epstein. The White House and 60 Minutes declined comment.
Criticism & Opposition
O’Donnell asked, “What’s your reaction to that?” and then, “Do you think he was referring to you?” Her probing framed the manifesto as a direct challenge to Trump’s conduct, casting her as a critical voice.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Neither the White House nor 60 Minutes provided an official response, leaving a gap in the record regarding institutional reactions to the interview and the shooter’s motives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people. Horrible people,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “Yeah, he did write that. I‘m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “I’m not a pedophile. You read that c--- from some sick person. I got associated with stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, let’s say, Epstein or other things.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
What's Next
Media scrutiny of Trump’s responses to the manifesto is expected, and further legal developments related to the Epstein investigations and the Carroll judgment may shape subsequent public discourse.
