Trump lashes out at ‘60 Minutes’ anchor for reading alleged gunman’s manifesto

President Donald Trump lashed out at CBS News reporter Norah O’Donnell in an interview Sunday for quoting the manifesto of the suspected gunman who tried to attack the White House Correspondents’ Dinner less than 24 hours earlier.

Trump initially expressed camaraderie with members of the press who hosted him at his annual dinner and enjoyed the experience. same initial panic when armed law enforcement officers stormed the ballroom.

But when O’Donnell quoted the apparent manifesto of accused gunman Cole Allen during an interview taped at the White House on Sunday — “I will no longer allow a pedophile, rapist and traitor to cover my hands with his crimes,” he read — Trump, relatively subdued in his responses, showed familiar anger.

“I was waiting for you to read this because I knew you would, because you are terrible people. Terrible people,” Trump said. “Yes, he wrote that. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anyone.”

O’Donnell interjected, “Oh, you think he’s talking about you?”

However, the president evaded his question, saying, “I am not a pedophile.”

Trump was angered by what he saw as an allusion to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who was not mentioned in the manifesto or O’Donnell. “You read this nonsense from a sick person,” the president said. “I was associated with things that had nothing to do with me. I have been completely exonerated.”

O’Donnell had just asked Trump if the experience at the dinner would change his experience with the press. He gave an indirect response by arguing that the press was largely left-leaning and opposed to immigration and crime policies.

But his harsh reaction to her moments later led to a much clearer answer.

“You should be ashamed of yourself for reading this, because I’m none of those things,” Trump said. “You shouldn’t be reading this on ’60 Minutes.’ You’re an embarrassment.”