ON-AIR EXPLOSION: Trump Blasts CBS Anchor for Quoting White House Gunman’s Manifesto | WATCH
In a fiery "60 Minutes" interview, President Donald Trump attacked CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell after she read excerpts from the manifesto of the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter. Trump slammed the network for platforming the "nonsense of a sick man," calling the interview a "disgrace" and an "embarrassment."
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a scathing verbal assault on CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell during a "60 Minutes" interview aired Sunday. The confrontation erupted after O’Donnell revealed the identity of the suspect in the recent White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting and began reading from his personal manifesto.
The suspect, identified as Cole Allen, 31, of California, reportedly posted anti-Trump content on social media prior to the attack. As O’Donnell read Allen's allegations regarding supposed misconduct by the President, Trump interjected with visible fury.
"The Nonsense of a Sick Person"
Trump rejected the claims entirely, accusing the network of intentionally seeking to smear him.
"I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you are horrible people. Horrible people... You're reading the nonsense of a sick man? I've been linked to all kinds of things that have nothing to do with me. I was completely exonerated ... You should be ashamed of yourself for reading that because I am none of those things."
A Disgraceful Interview
When O’Donnell attempted to clarify that she was merely quoting the suspect's stated motives, Trump refused to yield.
"You shouldn’t have read that on '60 Minutes.' You’re an embarrassment," the President claimed. "But go ahead, let’s finish the interview."
Media and the Democrats: "The Same Thing"
The President was later asked if the shooting would change his relationship with the mainstream media. Trump responded by doubling down on his rhetoric:
"For some reason, we don't agree on a lot of issues. We talk about crime, I'm very strong on that issue. It seems the press is not. It’s not just the press, it’s the press together with the Democrats, because they are almost the same thing. It’s the craziest thing."
History of Conflict with CBS
This interview follows a long-standing legal and professional feud between Trump and the network:
In November 2025, CBS and its parent company reached a $16 million settlement with Trump over a lawsuit alleging they deceptively edited an interview with former VP Kamala Harris. During his last appearance on the show, Trump reminded viewers of the payout, saying, "60 Minutes paid me a lot of money... I'm sure you won't show that."