Trump: «I’m not a rapist… I’m not a pedophile»

In the hours following the violent incident that disrupted the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where a gunman allegedly sought to target Donald Trump and members of his administration, attention quickly shifted to the president's public response. While security agencies continued to assess the attack and its implications, Trump moved into a series of media appearances, including a high-profile interview with 60 Minutes. What began as a discussion about the attempted attack and its broader context soon escalated into a tense exchange, as the conversation turned to the alleged manifesto left behind by the shooter.

According to investigators, the suspect had circulated a written document prior to the attack, outlining his motivations and grievances. During the 60 Minutes interview, the host raised specific excerpts from that alleged manifesto, including a line that directly referenced Trump. The host read «I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes», prompting an immediate reaction from the president. The decision to introduce the text on air marked a turning point in the interview, shifting it from a discussion of national security into a direct confrontation over the content and its implications.

Trump reacted sharply as the quote was read, interrupting the exchange and signaling his frustration before the question was fully developed. He said «I was waiting for you to read that.» He then escalated his criticism of both the interviewer and the program, adding «I knew you would, because you're horrible people. Horrible people.» The tone of the interview shifted visibly at that moment, with Trump framing the line of questioning as inappropriate and accusing the program of amplifying what he described as the words of an attacker rather than focusing on the broader context of the incident.

The exchange intensified as the host pressed further, asking «Oh, do you think he was referring to you?» Trump responded directly, acknowledging the reference while rejecting its substance. He said «Yeah, he did write that. I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody. I'm not a pedophile.» The statement marked one of the most direct responses from the president during the interview, as he addressed the accusations contained in the alleged manifesto in explicit terms while maintaining that the claims were entirely unfounded.

Trump then turned his criticism toward the decision to read the manifesto on air, expressing anger at what he viewed as the platforming of violent rhetoric. He said «You read that crap from some sick person,» before continuing «You should be ashamed of yourself for reading that, because I'm not any of those things.» He further added «You shouldn't be reading that on ‘60 Minutes.» The president's remarks underscored his broader argument that the focus should remain on the act of violence itself rather than the language used by the attacker.

The confrontation concluded with Trump directly attacking the credibility of the interviewer and the program, saying «You're a disgrace.» He also addressed the broader implications of the allegations, stating «I got associated with stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated.» The interview, which was expected to center on the security breach and its aftermath, instead became a focal point of controversy, highlighting the tension between media scrutiny and presidential response in the immediate aftermath of a high-profile violent incident.

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