Trump Lashes Out at Norah O’Donnell Calling Her a “Disgrace”

President Donald Trump sharply confronted CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell during a 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday, repeatedly denying allegations in the gunman’s manifesto and declaring the veteran journalist a “disgrace” for reading the suspect’s words on camera.

The heated exchange occurred less than 24 hours after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, in what authorities described as an assassination attempt targeting the president. Trump, who had just survived the attack, sat for the interview in the White House.O’Donnell read aloud passages from the manifesto in which the gunman, identified as Cole Thomas Allen, called Trump a “pedophile, rapist, and traitor.”

Trump’s response was immediate and forceful.

The gunman who attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner wrote a letter explaining his actions and accusing "Administration officials" broadly of various serious crimes. When Norah O'Donnell read this list of crimes to President Trump, he was offended.

“I read… pic.twitter.com/H0NKCc2oUK

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 26, 2026

“I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody,” Trump said, leaning forward. “I’m not a pedophile. Excuse me. Excuse me. I’m not a pedophile.”When O’Donnell noted the quotes came from the gunman, Trump cut her off:

“You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace. But go ahead. Let’s finish the interview.”Trump accused the network of bias, saying, “You’re horrible people,” and suggested the media was more focused on smearing him than on the security failure or the suspect’s radicalization. 

He described the gunman as a “sick person” while pivoting to praise the Secret Service for neutralizing the threat.

The confrontation dominated the interview, which was conducted in a formal White House sitting room. Trump began the session relatively measured, recounting the chaos of the previous night, but the tone shifted dramatically when the manifesto was introduced.

CBS stood by its journalism, stating the gunman’s writings were central to understanding the motive behind the attack. Portions of the nearly 90-minute conversation were broadcast, with the viral clip of Trump’s outburst quickly spreading on social media. Supporters viewed it as Trump pushing back against perceived media hostility, while critics called it defensive.

The interview comes amid heightened tensions following the assassination attempt. Trump has long accused 60 Minutes of unfair coverage, including a previous dispute over editing of a Kamala Harris interview. In this session, he also discussed the need for improved Secret Service protocols and called for national unity while highlighting his administration’s achievements.

The full exchange underscored Trump’s unfiltered style in the immediate aftermath of the attempt on his life, turning a discussion of the attack into a direct clash with one of television’s most prominent interviewers.