In what should surprise absolutely no one paying attention, President Donald Trump didn’t hold back after CBS’s “60 Minutes” chose to broadcast portions of a manifesto written by the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. And frankly, his reaction hit exactly where it needed to.
During a tense interview, correspondent Norah O’Donnell read excerpts from the alleged manifesto of 31-year-old Cole Allen, which reportedly included disturbing accusations and anti-Trump rhetoric. Instead of questioning the wisdom of giving airtime to the ramblings of a clearly unwell individual, the segment leaned right into it—because, of course, that’s what passes for journalism these days.
Trump, visibly unimpressed, called out the move for what it was.
“I knew you would read that because you’re horrible people,” he said bluntly, refusing to entertain the narrative being pushed. He firmly rejected any connection to the accusations mentioned in the manifesto, reminding viewers that he has been “totally exonerated” and pointing out that the real scandals tend to sit on the other side of the political aisle—though you won’t hear much about that on mainstream outlets.
When pressed further, Trump didn’t back down, calling the decision to air such material “disgraceful.” And honestly, it’s hard to argue. Giving a platform to the words of a violent suspect—especially when they’re filled with baseless smears—raises serious questions about priorities in legacy media.
The president also touched on the broader issue: the increasingly blurred line between the press and political opposition. According to Trump, it’s no longer just media bias—it’s alignment.
“We disagree on a lot of subjects… It’s the press plus the Democrats because they’re almost one and the same,” he said, summing up what many Americans have been noticing for years.
Despite the friction, Trump didn’t rule out future engagement with the media, though his skepticism was clear. And who could blame him? After all, this is the same network that ended up paying a $16 million settlement following a lawsuit over a manipulated interview. Not exactly a shining example of credibility.
Still, Trump managed to close on a surprisingly positive note, even offering kind words about new leadership at CBS News. It’s a reminder that while the media landscape may be chaotic, there’s always room for change—and maybe, just maybe, a return to something resembling honest reporting.