Trump Denies Checking on ABC Reporter After White House Shooting, Blasts 'Fake News'

President Donald Trump lashed out on Truth Social after ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl said the president called him early the morning following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting to check on his well-being. Trump denied making such a call, calling it “a hit on ME, not HIM,” and accused Karl of “very dishonest reporting.”

Karl, a veteran journalist and former White House Correspondents Association president, shared a video recounting the call. He said Trump called around 7 a.m. to ask if he was okay after 31-year-old Cole Allen allegedly attempted to breach the event armed with firearms and knives. Karl described a brief conversation where Trump expressed concern.

But Trump flipped the story, claiming Karl actually called him first and that he didn’t take the call. “He just confirmed that to me when he called again,” Trump wrote. He doubled down on his longstanding media attacks, labeling ABC “Fake News” and accusing Karl of trying to “make himself look important.”

Reached for comment, the White House deferred to Trump’s social media post. Karl did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

This exchange comes amid ongoing tensions between Trump and the press, with the president frequently dismissing unfavorable coverage as biased or false. Karl’s account offers a rare glimpse of a moment where Trump appeared to reach out with empathy, but the president’s denial underscores his unwillingness to be seen in that light.

The incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner raised serious security concerns, with the alleged armed intruder thwarted before causing harm. Karl’s early morning call from Trump was a surprising gesture of concern, but the president’s swift repudiation reveals his reflex to weaponize narratives against journalists rather than acknowledge vulnerability.

In a separate update, Karl reported a later phone call with Trump where the president stopped short of blaming Iran for recent attacks on a South Korean cargo ship and the United Arab Emirates. Trump said the administration would “look into” the incident and claimed most missiles and drones were shot down.

Karl has previously described Trump as having unusual energy levels, often reachable only very early or very late in the day, noting the president’s relentless media consumption.

This latest episode highlights Trump’s ongoing battle to control the story, refusing even the smallest acknowledgment of empathy if it means ceding any ground to the press. It’s another reminder that for Trump, the truth is always secondary to maintaining his combative posture against anyone who challenges him.