Trump says he ‘wasn’t worried’ during shooting
Donald Trump also told 60 Minutes he “wasn’t worried” about injuries during the commotion at the press dinner and that “we live in crazy world”.
Norah O’Donnell says in the interview soon to be aired on television that she was in the room when it occurred and could hear what sounded like gunshots or commotion. People nearby could smell gunpowder and “everybody hit the floor”. She asks Trump: “How worried were you that there were going to be injuries?”
Trump replies:
double quotation markI wasn’t worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world.”
Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Donald Trump describes the chaotic moments after the shots when security came in to secure his safety, as well as others including vice-president JD Vance, who is grabbed by his coat at the table and moved away.
Norah O’Donnell asks Trump: “At one point you were down. What was happening?”
The president replies in the 60 Minutes interview:
double quotation markWell … it was a little bit me. I wanted to see what was happening, and I wasn’t making it that easy for ’em. I wanted to see what was going on. And by that time we started to realise maybe it was a bad problem, different kind of a problem, bad one. And different than what would be normal noise from a ballroom, which you hear all the time. And I was surrounded by great people. And I probably made them act a little bit more slowly. I said: ‘Wait a minute, wait a minute. Lemme see. Wait a minute.’ So, you know, I’m telling guys to –”
O’Donnell: Just at that moment where it looks like you go sort of down with the [Secret] Service, you were telling them to wait?
Trump:
double quotation markWell, no what happened is then I started walking with them. I turned, I started walking, and they said, ‘Please go down. Please go down on the floor.’ So I went down and the First Lady went down also. But we were asked to go down by the agents as I was walking.”
Trump is asked about the moments before the incident occurred, when the performer known as Oz the Mentalist is speaking to Donald and Melania Trump, and is shown a video clip.
Q: When did you know something was wrong?
Trump says:
double quotation markRight round that point. In fact, you can see the expression on the First Lady’s face…”
Interviewer Norah O’Donnell says on 60 Minutes that the First Lady looked very alarmed.
“She was”, Trump replies.
Q: “Was she scared?”
Trump says:
double quotation markWell I don’t want to say,