Speaking about the attacker, Trump said that after reading the manifesto the attacker left behind, he got the impression that this was someone who was first a radical Christian, a believer, and then became anti-Christian. "His family was very concerned. He was probably a pretty sick man. I wasn't concerned. I understand life. We live in a crazy world," Trump said.
When asked how First Lady Melania Trump experienced the attack, Trump said she was visibly upset but did not want to go into detail "because people don't like it when you say they were scared."
"I wanted to see what was happening, and I didn't make it easy for them. I wanted to see what was happening. And by then we started to realize that maybe this was a serious problem, a different kind of problem, a serious problem. And different from the normal noise from the ballroom, which you hear all the time. And I was surrounded by great people. And I probably made them act a little slower. I said, 'Wait a minute, wait a minute. Let me see. Wait a minute,'" Trump said.
Describing how the attacker quickly broke through several rings of security, Trump said the speed at which he moved was pretty incredible.
"You know, he ran 45 yards, they say, and he just went, and then boom, he broke through. I mean, he was running like crazy. I think the NFL should sign him. He was fast. When you look at the footage, it's almost like a blur. But it was amazing because as soon as they saw it, you could see them drawing their guns. They were so professional. They aimed their guns and took him down immediately," Trump said.
Reading the manifesto that attacker Cole Allen sent to his family, which among other things claimed that Donald Trump is a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, Trump responded that he was waiting for the public to conclude for themselves how sick a person this is.
"I am not a rapist. I have never raped anyone. I am not a pedophile. Excuse me. Excuse me. I am not a pedophile. Did you read that nonsense from some sick person? They linked me to all sorts of things that have nothing to do with me. I am completely exonerated. Your friends on the other side of the aisle are the ones who were involved in, say, Epstein or other things," Trump said.
The interview escalated after journalist Norah O'Donnell continued reading details from the manifesto, to which Trump reacted with indignation, saying she should be ashamed for reading such lies about him.
"Well, you know, go back 20 years, 40 years, 100 years, 200 years, 500 years, it's always been there. People get killed. People get hurt. People get injured. And I'm not sure it's more now than it was. I think the hate speech of the Democrats is much more dangerous," Trump concluded.