Trump Defends Himself in Fiery Interview: “I’m Not a Pedophile”
President Donald Trump lashed out during a tense 60 Minutes interview after being confronted with passages from the alleged manifesto of the gunman who opened fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
Speaking with correspondent Norah O’Donnell, Trump was asked about writings allegedly sent by 31-year-old suspect Cole Tomas Allen to his family just before the shooting near the Washington Hilton.
O’Donnell told Trump the manifesto appeared to explain the suspect’s motive, quoting a line that read, “Administration officials, they are targets.”
She then referenced another part in which Allen allegedly wrote he was “no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
Trump immediately erupted.
“I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people. Horrible people,” he said. “Yeah, he did write that. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.”
When O’Donnell asked whether he believed the suspect was referring to him, Trump cut her off.
TRUMP: I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 26, 2026
O'DONNELL: Oh, you think he was referring to you? pic.twitter.com/JXmtB6kUdJ
“I’m not a pedophile. Excuse me. Excuse me. I’m not a pedophile,” he said. “You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated.”
He also pushed back against any connection to Jeffrey Epstein, saying others were more closely tied to the convicted sex offender.
“You should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I’m not any of those things,” Trump added. “You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace.”
Trump has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, though he has denied any wrongdoing and has never been charged with any crime related to Epstein.
He has also faced legal battles over sexual misconduct allegations. In 2023, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and later ordered him to pay millions in damages for defamation.
The alleged gunman’s manifesto also reportedly stated that FBI Director Kash Patel was not one of his intended targets. According to the writings, “Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets.”
The suspect also criticized what he described as weak security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, questioning how he was able to get so close while allegedly carrying multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun, and knives.
He reportedly wrote that he expected heavy security but instead found “no damn security” and said no one treated him as a threat.
Daily Beast Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty, who had a hotel room next to the suspect’s, also described the situation as a “security fiasco,” saying no one checked his luggage when he arrived at the hotel.
He said the only real checkpoint was the same magnetometer area the suspect later rushed past with his weapon.
