Full Breakdown
Trump Denies Allegations in 60 Minutes Interview After White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting
4/27/2026, 8:44:02 PM
Shooting at the Washington Hilton and Manifesto Overview
On April 25, a gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, injuring an officer and forcing President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to leave the ballroom. Police arrested 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance at the scene. Allen allegedly sent an “anti-Christian” manifesto to his family, signed “Friendly Federal Assassin,” that named senior administration officials as targets and included the line, “I’m no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.” The document also mocked hotel security, writing, “I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.”
Background & Context
The Correspondents’ Dinner gathers senior journalists and officials in a single ballroom. The manifesto’s author described the venue’s security as “arrogant,” prompting renewed scrutiny of protective measures for high-ranking officials at large events.
Key Figures & Groups
President Donald Trump, CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell, suspect Cole Tomas Allen, and the Secret Service and local law-enforcement officers who secured the venue and treated the injured officer.
Official Statements & Responses
In a 60 Minutes interview, Trump denied the manifesto’s accusations, saying, “I’m not a pedophile… I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody,” and added he had been “waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people.” He called O’Donnell “disgraceful” and “a disgrace” for reading the document and claimed he was “likely the target” of the attack. Law-enforcement confirmed Allen authored the manifesto, which listed senior officials as targets, mocked hotel security, and omitted FBI Director Kash Patel from the target list. He also argued the shooting showed a new White House ballroom would be a more secure venue for such events.
Criticism & Opposition
Online reaction was sharply critical. Users called O’Donnell’s question “masterful trolling” and said the exchange would “go down in history.” Commentators accused Trump of “walking straight into” a trap and labeled his remarks “brilliant” sarcastically. Critics also argued his promotion of a new White House ballroom diverted attention from the security lapses highlighted by the shooter’s manifesto.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The manifesto was described as allegedly sent to the suspect’s family, and only portions have been publicly disclosed, leaving gaps about the full target list. Allen’s arraignment, set for Monday, will be the first judicial proceeding on the case.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You’re disgraceful.” — Donald Trump (source 1)
- “Oh, do you think he was referring to you?” — Norah O’Donnell, CBS correspondent (source 3)
- “I’m no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes” — Manifesto of Cole Tomas Allen (source 1/2)
