TOI reporter in Washington: US President Donald Trump lashed out at a media dinner against a reporter who read out excerpts from an alleged manifesto written by the suspect during Saturday night’s security scare, while angrily claiming he was not a rapist or pedophile as his attacker’s tirade suggested.In an interview with CBS “60 Minutes” correspondent Norah O’Donnell, Trump was outraged when confronted with passages in the alleged attacker’s writings that accused him of serious crimes. The president interrupted, calling her a “disgrace” and denouncing the decision to make such remarks, even amid reporting on the suspect’s motives.“I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody,” Trump said, vehemently denying the accusations in his manifesto. Investigators said the manifesto was distributed shortly before the attack. The exchange quickly turned into a broader attack on the media, with Trump accusing reporters of amplifying the “sick man’s” comments and trying to smear him on national television.The interview, which aired less than 24 hours after a dramatic security incident in Washington, provided the first insight into Trump’s account of the incident. As gunfire rang out near the venue, he insisted he was “not worried,” portraying the presidency as inherently dangerous and suggesting he was used to such threats.The shooting occurred Saturday night at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where dozens of journalists, politicians and celebrities had gathered for the annual WHCA dinner — an event often described as the most high-profile intersection of media and power in Washington.One suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, tried to break into a secure area armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun and a handgun, but was intercepted by Secret Service agents, according to law enforcement officials. One officer was injured, but no fatalities were reported, and Trump and other top officials, including Vice President Vance, were quickly evacuated.Investigators said the suspect circulated a rambling manifesto expressing anger at the federal government and outlining a plan to target senior officials. The document has become a focus of political debate, especially after Trump’s explosive reaction to its contents during an interview with “60 Minutes.”While Trump praised the Secret Service’s response as “courageous and skillful,” he also made an unusual admission that he was concerned about delays in the evacuation because the vice president was taken away at least 20 seconds before him: The president said he may have delayed his own evacuation by hesitating to follow agents’ instructions in the chaotic moments after gunfire broke out.The admission adds to a growing controversy surrounding security arrangements for the high-profile rally. Critics, including former law enforcement officials, have questioned how a heavily armed man could have gotten as close as he did to an event attended by the president and much of the nation’s leadership.Reports have emerged in the past 24 hours pointing to potential vulnerabilities at the venue itself. The Washington Hilton is a functioning hotel near the White House with multiple public access points, but the event was only partially covered. The suspect himself pointed out glaring security flaws in his writings, further fueling concerns.The Secret Service has defended its performance, stressing that agents neutralized threats before they escalated into mass-casualty attacks. But dissenters argue the focus should be not just on response but also on prevention – raising the possibility of procedural changes for future incidents involving high concentrations of senior officials.Politically, the incident has reverberated in Washington. Trump described the attack as part of a broader pattern of hostility toward political opponents who he viewed as Democrats in cahoots with the liberal media. He described the suspect as a “lone wolf” but tied the incident to what he called a “dangerous” narrative about his presidency.Meanwhile, media commentators viewed Trump’s on-air outbursts as further evidence of an increasingly adversarial relationship between the White House and the media. His decision to attack O’Donnell personally — particularly in response to questions based on reporting on suspects — has drawn criticism from some who say it could legitimize hostility toward journalists.Public reaction appears to be deeply polarized. Supporters praised Trump for his forceful rebuttal of what they considered defamatory implications, while critics described the exchange as emblematic of the president’s reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths. Despite the chaos, Trump said he did not want the WHCA dinner tradition to be disrupted and urged organizers to reschedule the event if necessary. He said scrapping the plan would give political violence a symbolic victory.
