Manifesto, Epstein claims, gunfire: Trump breaks silence on the night Washington’s press dinner went dark

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) described the tense moments after gunfire broke out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, saying he dropped to the floor with First Lady Melania Trump after Secret Service agents ordered them to take cover.

The shooting at the high-profile Washington event has triggered fresh concern over political violence in the United States, with investigators examining a manifesto allegedly sent by the suspect shortly before the attack. The accused, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was subdued after allegedly breaching security and firing shots at the venue.

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Trump says suspect was ‘radicalised’ and ‘sick’

Speaking to CBS News, Trump said he had reviewed the suspect’s manifesto and believed it showed signs of radicalisation and instability.

“I read a manifesto… he’s radicalised. He was a Christian believer, and then he became an anti-Christian… His family was very concerned. He was probably a pretty sick guy,” Trump said.

Trump also claimed the suspect’s family had raised concerns earlier. “His brother complained about him, and I think reported him to the police. And his sister, likewise, complained about him. His family was very concerned,” he said.

US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said preliminary findings suggest the suspect may have been targeting members of the Trump administration. Investigators are examining his electronic devices, travel history and personal links to establish motive.

‘Please go down’: President recounts evacuation

Trump said he initially tried to understand what was happening before fully following security instructions.

“When they said, ‘Drop down,’ that meant trouble… I listened to what they said… ‘Sir, please drop down,’” Trump said. “I was about halfway there when they said, ‘Please go down to the floor,’ so I dropped to the floor. So did the First Lady.”

He admitted he may have slowed the evacuation because he wanted to see the situation for himself.

“It was a little bit me. I wanted to see what was happening… I said, ‘Wait a minute… lemme see,’” he said.

Trump said Melania Trump quickly understood that the sound was not routine ballroom noise. “By that time, I think she realised ahead of time that that was more of a bullet than it was a tray,” he said.

Trump rejects Epstein-linked claims in suspect’s manifesto

Trump also pushed back strongly against allegations referenced in the suspect’s manifesto, which broadly accused “administration officials” of serious crimes and appeared to link him to controversies involving Jeffrey Epstein.

“I read the manifesto. You know, he’s a sick person… I’m not any of those things,” Trump said in the CBS interview, adding, “I’m not a rapist… I’m not a paedophile.”

He said the accusations were baseless and insisted he had been “totally exonerated,” while suggesting attention should be directed elsewhere.

“You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all the stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated. Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, let’s say, Epstein or other things,” he said.

Secret Service praised after officer injured

Authorities said Trump, Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were safely evacuated. A security officer sustained injuries during the response.

Trump praised the Secret Service for acting quickly.

“Those guys did a really good job,” he said, adding, “I’m a big fan of the people of law enforcement…As soon as they saw that, you could see them draw their guns… they were so professional… and then they took him down immediately.”

White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang called it a “harrowing moment” and said the actions of security personnel “protected thousands of guests.”

Former US president Barack Obama also condemned the attack, saying violence has no place in democracy. “Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all of us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” Obama said in a post on X.

Trump wants dinner held again within 30 days

Despite the disruption, Trump said he wanted the event to continue and later called for it to be held again within 30 days.

“I want them… to do it again. We can’t let something be— it’s not that I wanna go… I think it’s very important that they do it again,” Trump said.

He added, “They’ll have even more security, and they’ll have bigger perimeter security. It’ll be fine.”

Trump said he did not want “a crazy person” to cancel an event associated with press freedom and the relationship between the presidency and the media.