A 31-year-old man has been charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump after allegedly opening fire at a high-profile dinner in Washington, D.C., in an incident that has once again raised concerns about political violence in the United States.
Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, appeared before a federal court in Washington two days after authorities said they thwarted an attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, an annual gathering of journalists, politicians and public figures. If convicted, the 31-year-old could face a potential life sentence.
Allen was led into court in handcuffs by US Marshals and did not respond to the allegations during the brief hearing. The court was told he holds a master’s degree in computer science and, according to his defence lawyer, has no prior arrests or convictions.
Prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine outlined the seriousness of the charges, telling the court: "He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J Trump." She said the weapons allegedly brought to Washington included a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and three knives.
In addition to the attempted assassination charge, Allen is also facing counts of illegally transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, according to US Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh. The judge ordered that he remain in custody ahead of a further hearing later this week to determine whether he should be detained pending trial.
The shooting unfolded at the Washington Hilton hotel, where Allen had reportedly booked a room before the event. Authorities allege he travelled from California to Washington by train in the days leading up to the incident.
According to investigators, the suspect discharged a shotgun at a Secret Service agent stationed at a security checkpoint inside the venue. The agent was struck, but a protective vest prevented serious injury, and they were later released from hospital.
Allen was subdued within the security perimeter and arrested at the scene.
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Footage shared online showed the suspect running through a hallway outside the ballroom as law enforcement moved swiftly to detain him. The gunfire triggered panic inside the event, with attendees scrambling for cover as security personnel evacuated senior officials.
Donald Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance and other senior figures, had been present at the dinner, which is considered a key date in Washington’s political and media calendar.
Authorities also revealed that Allen allegedly left behind a manifesto referring to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin”, in which he discussed targeting senior members of the Trump administration who were in attendance at the event.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche condemned the incident, stating: "Violence has no place in civil life. It cannot and will not be used to disrupt democratic institutions, and it certainly cannot continue to be used against the president of the United States."
🚨 FULL MANIFESTO: Trump White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooter Cole Allen details his motives and targets:
"Hello everybody!
So I may have given a lot of people a surprise today. Let me start off by apologizing to everyone whose trust I abused.
I apologize to my parents…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 26, 2026
The attack marks what officials have described as the third major assassination attempt against Trump, following two previous incidents during the 2024 presidential campaign. The latest episode has intensified scrutiny around security arrangements at major political events.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a review of security protocols is now underway. Senior officials, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, are expected to meet with representatives from the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security to assess current procedures and consider possible changes.
Speaking after the incident, Trump described the suspect as deeply troubled, saying: "The guy is a sick guy. When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians." He added: "He was a very troubled guy."
The gunman who attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner wrote a letter explaining his actions and accusing "Administration officials" broadly of various serious crimes. When Norah O'Donnell read this list of crimes to President Trump, he was offended.
“I read… pic.twitter.com/H0NKCc2oUK
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 26, 2026
Prominent political figures across party lines have condemned the attack, with renewed calls for a reduction in inflammatory rhetoric and heightened vigilance around public safety.
Further charges against Allen are expected, according to prosecutors, as the investigation continues into the events leading up to the shooting and how the suspect was able to approach a heavily secured venue.
The case is likely to remain under close attention in the coming weeks, as US authorities grapple with the broader implications of repeated threats against political leaders and the ongoing challenge of ensuring security at high-profile public events.
