Donald Trump has described, minute by minute, the dramatic moments of an armed attack outside a ballroom while he was present, speaking in an interview with CBS News programme 60 Minutes.
He said he initially failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation, assuming the noise he heard was caused by something ordinary, such as an object falling. It soon became clear, however, that an attack was under way, at which point members of his security detail moved swiftly to evacuate him.
Trump said he and the first lady were ultimately taken to the floor before being hurriedly escorted out of the Washington Hilton hotel. He praised the professionalism of the agents and members of his security team, saying they reacted with speed and effectiveness.
He also revived his proposal for the construction of a new ballroom within the White House, arguing that it could offer “100% security,” as he put it.
Trump was also asked to comment on the contents of the attacker’s manifesto, which reportedly contains serious accusations against him. He categorically rejected the claims, describing them as false and extreme, stemming, he said, from a “distorted and politically toxic reality.”
In closing, he stressed that such attacks and what he called “slanders” would not deter him from continuing his public role.
The armed attack targeting Donald Trump and government officials took place on Saturday night (26 April) in Washington, when a gunman stormed the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was under way, attended by the US president.
According to security sources and eyewitnesses, the incident unfolded within a few critical minutes, although the overall operation to neutralise the threat and bring the situation under control lasted around half an hour.
The attacker, armed with a handgun, shotgun and knives, ran through a security checkpoint, opened fire and caught security forces off guard. During the incident, one agent was injured.
Following strict protocol, members of the US Secret Service immediately escorted President Trump, his wife and the vice president to separate secure locations within the hotel. At the same time, security forces located and subdued the attacker before he was able to enter the main ballroom, which was packed with journalists and guests.
The arrest was completed with the gunman lying handcuffed face down on the ground, an image captured in photographs that quickly circulated across international media.
Source: ertnews.gr.