White House event shooter charged with attempted assassination of Trump

The man accused of shooting a US Secret Service agent while attempting to breach security at a Washington dinner attended by US President Donald Trump has been charged with trying to assassinate the president, a judge said on Monday.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, also faces firearms charges following the incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, a high-profile gathering of journalists and political figures. Authorities said the attack was foiled before it could escalate further.

Allen appeared in Washington federal court wearing a blue prison jumpsuit and has not yet responded to the allegations. During the hearing, he said he would answer questions truthfully and noted he holds a master’s degree in computer science. Prosecutors are seeking his continued detention as the case proceeds.

Investigators said Allen left behind a manifesto referring to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and outlining plans to target senior members of the Trump administration, who were present at the event. Officials believe Trump may have been among the intended



targets.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the incident as the third major assassination attempt against Trump, following two attempts in 2024. She also linked the language in the manifesto to political rhetoric used by Trump’s opponents, while prominent Democrats condemned the violence.

According to authorities, Allen booked a room at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner was held, and travelled from California by train. The shooting caused panic at the event, with attendees taking cover as security personnel evacuated senior officials. Trump, who was scheduled to speak, was escorted off-stage.

Officials said the suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint inside the hotel before being subdued and arrested. The agent was struck, but a protective vest prevented serious injury, and he was released from hospital hours later.

Allen was reportedly carrying additional weapons, including a handgun and multiple knives, and was also taken to hospital for evaluation after the incident. The case has renewed concerns over the safety of US political leaders.