President Donald Trump revealed in a “60 Minutes” interview that a prominent Democrat approached him for a hug in the chaotic aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner — a moment he described as unexpectedly unifying.
Speaking with CBS’ Norah O’Donnell, Trump said the night took a dramatic turn just as he was preparing to deliver a speech aimed at the press.
“I was going to hit them really hard, with humor,” Trump said, noting the event was ultimately scrapped due to the security scare. “But I couldn’t do it. I would’ve had to just get up there and say, ‘I love you all.’”
Instead, the evening became something far different.
“There was love in the room. It was amazing. There was love in the room,” Trump said.
According to the president, even longtime political adversaries softened in the moment.
“Democrats that truly can’t stand me were saying, ‘Sir, could I just shake your hand?’” Trump said. “I’m leaving, and I’m seeing high-level people, and they’re saying, ‘Sir, great job.’”
Then came the moment that stood out most.
“One of them said, ‘Could I hug you?’” Trump recalled with a laugh. “A big politician on the other side. There was love. It just all came together. It was very amazing to see. It was a very beautiful thing — at a non-beautiful moment.”
The chaos erupted Saturday night when a suspect, identified as Cole Allen, rushed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton and opened fire. A Secret Service officer was struck in his bulletproof vest and survived. Allen was quickly apprehended and now faces multiple felony charges.
Video released late Thursday by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, shows the 31-year-old suspect pacing a hallway on April 24, before returning the following evening and sprinting through security while heavily armed.
The gunfire forced the evacuation of Trump, his Cabinet, and attendees. The annual dinner has since been postponed, though Trump said he pushed to keep it going.
“I fought like hell to have it continue,” he said, adding that the event will likely be rescheduled within the next month.
In the immediate aftermath, Trump struck an unusually conciliatory tone toward the media.
“This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press — and in a certain way, it did,” he said during a press briefing. “I saw a room that was totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful.”
For one night, at least, Trump said the divisions in Washington briefly gave way to something else.
And it came with a hug.
