Kamal Ghorui
TOI correspondent from Washington: US President Donald Trump lashed out at a journalist who read out excerpts from a purported manifesto written by the suspect in Saturday night’s security scare at a media dinner while angrily asserting that he is not a rapist or a pedophile as the assailant’s screed suggested.In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell, Trump bristled when confronted with passages from the alleged attacker’s writings that accused him of serious crimes. The president cut her off, calling her “a disgrace” and denouncing the decision to air such claims, even in the context of reporting on the suspect’s motives.“I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody,” Trump said, forcefully rejecting the allegations embedded in the manifesto, which investigators say was circulated shortly before the attack. The exchange quickly devolved into a broader attack on the media, with Trump accusing journalists of amplifying the words of a “sick person” and seeking to smear him on national television.The interview, aired less than 24 hours after the dramatic security incident in Washington, offered the first extended glimpse into Trump’s account of the episode. He insisted he “wasn’t worried” as shots rang out near the venue, portraying the presidency as inherently dangerous and suggesting he has grown accustomed to such threats.The shooting occurred on Saturday evening at the Washington Hilton, where scores of journalists, politicians and celebrities had gathered for the annual WHCA dinner—an event often described as Washington’s most visible intersection of media and power.According to law enforcement officials, a 31-year-old suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, tried to barge through the security perimeter armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun and handgun, before being intercepted by Secret Service agents. One officer was injured, but no fatalities were reported, and Trump along with other senior officials—including Vice President JD Vance—were swiftly evacuated.Investigators say the suspect had circulated a rambling manifesto that expressed anger at the federal government and outlined a plan to target high-ranking officials. The document has become a central point of political contention, particularly after Trump’s explosive reaction to its contents during the 60 Minutes interview.While Trump praised the Secret Service response as “brave and skillful,” he also made an unusual admission amid concern over the delay in evacuating him when the vice-president was taken away at least 20 second before him: the President said he may have delayed his own evacuation by hesitating to follow agents’ instructions in the chaotic moments after gunfire erupted.That acknowledgment has added to a growing controversy over security arrangements at the high-profile gathering. Critics, including former law enforcement officials, have questioned how a heavily armed individual was able to get as close as he did to an event attended by the president and much of the American leadership.Reports emerging over the past 24 hours point to potential vulnerabilities stemming from the venue itself. The Washington Hilton, a functioning hotel near the White House with multiple public access points, was only partially secured for the event. The suspect himself noted perceived security gaps in his writings, further intensifying concerns.The Secret Service has defended its performance, emphasizing that agents neutralized the threat before it could escalate into a mass-casualty attack. But dissenting voices argue the focus should not only be on response, but on prevention—raising the prospect of procedural changes for future events involving dense concentrations of top officials.Politically, the episode is already reverberating across Washington. Trump has framed the attack as part of a broader pattern of hostility fueled, in his view, by political opponents — Democrats in cahoots with the liberal media. He described the suspect as a “lone wolf” but linked the incident to what he called “dangerous” narratives about his presidency.At the same time, media commentators have seized on Trump’s on-air outburst as further evidence of an increasingly adversarial relationship between the White House and the press. His decision to personally attack O’Donnell—particularly in response to a question grounded in reporting about the suspect—has drawn criticism from those who argue it risks legitimizing hostility toward journalists.Public reaction appears deeply polarized. Supporters have praised Trump’s forceful rebuttal of what they see as defamatory insinuations, while critics have described the exchange as emblematic of a president unwilling to engage with uncomfortable facts. Despite the turmoil, Trump signaled he does not want the WHCA dinner tradition disrupted, urging organizers to reschedule the event if necessary. Canceling it, he said, would hand a symbolic victory to political violence.
