In an interview with CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell on 60 Minutes, President Trump recounted his reaction to the shooting at the Washington Hilton and said he reviewed an alleged attacker’s manifesto.
Trump said he “wasn’t worried” about injuries when gunshots rang out, telling O’Donnell, “I understand life. We live in a crazy world.” He said he was not certain whether he himself was the shooter’s target but added, “it sounds it to me.”
Describing what he read in the document, Trump said the alleged gunman claimed to have been radicalized: once a Christian, he became anti-Christian, according to the president. Trump said the suspect’s family had been concerned, that the brother had complained about him and that authorities had been notified. “He was, probably a pretty sick guy,” Trump said.
Trump recalled recognizing something was wrong from the first lady’s facial expression. After being escorted off the stage, he said he was taken to a holding room and urged Secret Service agents to allow the dinner program to continue.
When O’Donnell asked whether he wanted to return to the event, Trump replied that he did — that he ‘‘really did’’ want to go back in.
Reporting by ABC News’ Nicholas Kerr and Meghan Mistry.