US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has used a shooting at a gala he attended in Washington to push his plans to construct a huge ballroom next to the White House that has faced legal challenges.

But he found himself on the backfoot when parts of the shooter’s manifesto appearing to criticise a “rapist” in the administration were read to him on 60 Minutes, causing him to angrily reject the presenter’s question that the gunman’s allegations.

Shots were fired Saturday evening as Secret Service agents subdued the gunman who tried to storm the White House Correspondents Dinner, attended by Trump, top government officials and hundreds of journalists.

The annual event – a private, not government, function – was at the Washington Hilton, a few blocks north of the White House, where it has been held for decades.

The street outside the Washington Hilton was also the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on former president Ronald Reagan.

“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The $400-million ballroom has become a passion project for Trump during his second term and he has addressed it often in public appearances, press conferences and meetings.

In his post yesterday, Trump lauded the security features of the proposed ballroom, which has faced widespread public criticism for its outsized scale and the lack of consultation.

“This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House,” Trump wrote. “It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is.”

Trump also mentioned the ballroom during a hastily called press conference Saturday evening after the shooting, and many of his political and online allies voiced support for its construction.

The future of the project, which has already seen the historic East Wing of the White House abruptly torn down, is being fought over in the courts.

Manifesto read out on 60 Minutes

In an interviewed aired last night on CBS programme 60 Minutes, elements of the shooter’s manifesto were read out to Trump, who lashed out after he was told that the gunman was angry at “a pedophile” before the attack.

“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” the host Norah O’Donnell read.

Trump reacted immediately with anger:

“I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people. Horrible people… Yeah, he did write that. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.”

Asked by O’Donnell if he thought the shooter “was referring to you”, Trump rejected the host’s question.

“Excuse me, I’m not a pedophile,” the US president said.

The gunman who attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner wrote a letter explaining his actions and accusing "Administration officials" broadly of various serious crimes. When Norah O'Donnell read this list of crimes to President Trump, he was offended.

“I read… pic.twitter.com/H0NKCc2oUK

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 26, 2026

Trump was asked if he feared there would be casualties as the chaotic scene unfolded before him, Washington’s government and media elite in formal attire ducking for cover at a fancy dinner.

“I wasn’t worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world,” Trump said.

In another interview yesterday, Donald Trump claimed the suspected gunman had written a anti-Christian manifesto.

“The guy is a sick guy,” he told Fox News. “When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians.”

“His sister or his brother actually was complaining about it. You know, they were even complaining to law enforcement. He was a very troubled guy.”

With reporting by AFP