Investigators are examining anti-Trump sentiment as a potential motive for the attacker who attempted to breach the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC, where the US president and senior administration officials were present. Officials have indicated that the shooter likely targeted Donald Trump and other top administration figures.
Suspect in Custody
The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was subdued by law enforcement as he rushed through the hotel venue. He is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on Monday. Allen faces charges of assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm, and attempting to kill a federal officer. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that depending on the investigation's outcome, he might also be charged with attempted assassination of the president.
Manifesto Reveals Targets
Investigators are analyzing a manifesto reportedly written by Allen, which was published in full by the New York Post. In the document, Allen created a list of targets ranked by priority, with Trump administration officials at the top. An official familiar with the matter confirmed the manifesto's authenticity to the Guardian. The suspect sent writings detailing his grievances against the administration to his family about 10 minutes before the shooting, according to White House officials speaking to the Associated Press. A relative, confirmed to be Allen's brother, contacted police in New London, Connecticut.
Details of the Incident
The suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and cabinet officials were evacuated as the incident unfolded. The Secret Service agent who was shot escaped serious injury because the bullet struck his protective vest, Trump said. The shooter referred to himself as the "Friendly Federal Assassin," matching the manifesto text.
The New London police department stated they were contacted at 10:49 pm, about two hours after the shooting, by an individual sharing information related to the incident, and they immediately notified federal law enforcement. Multiple US outlets reported that Allen's alleged writings contained anti-Trump sentiments, echoing the manifesto. The Washington Post also reported that the suspect sent writings to his family along those lines, aligning with Trump's claim to Fox News that a sibling had contacted police.
Manifesto Content
The manifesto begins with apologies and lists motives for the shooting. It states that administration officials were targeted, except for FBI Director Kash Patel. Secret Service agents would only be targeted if necessary, while hotel security, Capitol police, and the National Guard were classified as "not targets if at all possible (aka unless they shoot at me)." Hotel employees and guests were not targets. The letter declares, "I am a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes." It adds, "Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor's crimes." Although the manifesto does not mention Trump by name, it references grievances over administration actions, including US strikes on drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific. The author writes, "I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done."
Trump's Reaction
In an interview with 60 Minutes, Trump described the attacker as a "sick person" and criticized interviewer Norah O'Donnell for reading portions of the manifesto on air. He expressed a calm demeanor regarding the events, stating, "I wasn't worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world."
Investigation Continues
Allen is believed to have traveled by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington, where he checked in as a guest at the hotel days before the gala. Federal agents interviewed Allen's sister in Maryland, who told investigators that her brother had legally purchased several weapons from a California gun store and stored them at their parents' home in Torrance without their knowledge.
