In a sit-down with 60 Minutes, President Trump addressed the fallout from Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, balancing praise for law enforcement with sharp rebukes of the media and his political rivals.
The interview, which covered everything from the gunman’s motives to the President’s personal safety plans, offered a firsthand look at his reaction to the chaos in Washington.
Trump began by describing the atmosphere in the room immediately after the shots rang out. He noted that despite the fear, a unique sense of unity took hold among the attendees.
“There was tremendous camaraderie,” Trump told Norah O’Donnell, describing a “spirit” that made it feel as though the entire country had come together. He remarked that the display of solidarity was “pretty amazing” and left a lasting impression on him.
The conversation grew tense when O’Donnell questioned the President on political violence and public rhetoric. Trump pushed back, specifically pointing toward the “hate speech” of the Democratic party as a primary threat.
“I really think it’s very dangerous for the country,” he said. He also dismissed critical reports regarding his character, calling the media “horrible people” for reading what he described as “crap from some sick person.”
READ: Melania Trump Rips Jimmy Kimmel’s ‘Widow’ Gag After D.C. Shooting: ‘Enough Is Enough’
During the exchange, Trump provided details on the shooter’s background, citing a manifesto he had read. He described the gunman as a “radicalized” individual who had abandoned his Christian faith.
As the Tampa Free Press reported Sunday, the shooter’s own brother had previously reported him to the police, concluding that the man was “probably a pretty sick guy.”
Trump also used the platform to highlight the performance of his security detail. He praised the officers’ speed, describing their reaction as a “blur” of professionalism. He confirmed he had personally checked in on the officer who was hit during the scuffle, noting the officer was unharmed thanks to his bulletproof vest and was in high spirits.
As the interview concluded, Trump looked ahead to future security, mentioning his ongoing project to build a “safe ballroom” on what he called the “safest piece of land in the world.”
Despite the weekend’s violence, he encouraged the media to move forward with rescheduling the dinner. “I think it’s very important that they do it again,” Trump said, urging O’Donnell to “get it going.”
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