- Speaking on “60 Minutes” following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Donald Trump claimed the media and the Democratic Party share the same liberal agenda, particularly on crime.
- The President’s relationship with the press reached a new low during the sit-down when he labeled correspondent Norah O’Donnell a “disgrace” for reading excerpts from the suspected gunman’s manifesto.
- Despite the hostility, Trump noted a momentary “spirit of friendship” between his staff and journalists in the immediate, life-threatening chaos of the evacuation on Saturday night.
In his first major television interview since surviving a security breach at the Washington Hilton, President Donald Trump has made it clear that the assassination attempt has done little to soften his stance toward the press.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the president accused the American media of being “very liberal or very progressive” and claimed they have become indistinguishable from his political opponents.
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“It’s not so much the press. It’s the press plus the Democrats, because they’re almost one in the same,” Trump remarked, doubling down on his long-standing narrative of media bias. He pointed to disagreements over law enforcement as a primary example, stating that while he remains “very strong on crime,” the media appears to be the opposite.
The interview became particularly heated when the President slammed the network for quoting the shooter’s writings, calling the reporting a “disgrace” and labeling the media “horrible people.”
The President did, however, reflect on the rare moment of unity that occurred on Saturday night after 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen allegedly opened fire near a security checkpoint.
Trump admitted he was “really happy” to see the temporary bond that formed between his administration and the press corps as they were ushered to safety. “I don’t know how long it’ll last,” he said, “but the spirit after a very bad event took place was good.”
He credited the lack of fatalities for the relatively calm aftermath, noting that while a Secret Service agent was shot, their protective gear prevented a tragedy.
Despite his grievances, the President emphasized that he does not want the event, which he was attending for the first time as President, to be canceled permanently.
He urged the White House Correspondents’ Association to reschedule the gala within the next 30 days, arguing that “a crazy person” should not have the power to shut down a national tradition.
