Trump Resumes Media Hostilities Within 24 Hours of White House Shooting

Less than 24 hours after sharing a moment of unity with the Washington press, President Donald Trump resumed his hostile stance toward journalists following a single uncomfortable question.

In his first 60 Minutes interview since a gunman stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, Trump downplayed concerns about political violence in the U.S.

“I wasn’t worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world,” Trump told Norah O’Donnell during the sit-down.

Trump Dismisses Political Violence Concerns

Trump, who has survived three assassination attempts in two years, argued that political violence has always existed in America.

“You go back 20 years, 40 years, 100 years, 200 years, 500 years, it’s always been there. ... And I’m not sure that it’s any more now than there was.”

He then shifted blame to Democrats, claiming their rhetoric is more dangerous.

“I do think that the hate speech of the Democrats, much more so, is very dangerous. I really think it’s very dangerous for the country.”

Brief Truce Ends at White House Briefing

Trump initially struck a conciliatory tone at the First Amendment dinner, praising the “tremendous amount of love and coming together.” He admitted he had planned to deliver a harsh speech but was moved by the atmosphere.

“I was all set to really rip it,” he said. “I don’t know if I could ever be as rough as I was going to be.”

“There was spirit in that room,” Trump told O’Donnell the next day. “I mean, it was like the whole country was together. It was pretty amazing. It made a big impression.”

Attacks on Democrats and Media Resume

The truce was short-lived. When O’Donnell asked if the shooting would change his relationship with the media, Trump pivoted to attacking Democrats, calling them and the press “almost one and the same.”

He erupted when she read a passage from the alleged shooter’s manifesto, which included the line: “I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”

“I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody. I’m not a pedophile,” Trump responded, accusing Democrats of ties to Jeffrey Epstein. “You read that crap from some sick person?”

He then criticized O’Donnell for reading the passage, calling her “a disgrace” and telling her she should be “ashamed” of herself.

Trump’s Ongoing War with the Press

Trump has escalated his attacks on the media during his second term, including:

• Suing major news outlets, including 60 Minutes parent company Paramount, for billions of dollars
• Blacklisting the Associated Press (AP) from the Oval Office
• Stripping the White House Correspondents’ Association of its century-old role in selecting the press pool
• Publicly attacking individual reporters by name

His feud with Epstein has also led to legal action, including a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting.