Full Breakdown
Attempted Assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
4/27/2026, 12:13:57 PM
Core Event
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance, California, breached a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton and opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He carried a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38-caliber pistol and knives. A Secret Service officer was hit in his bullet-proof vest but survived; President Donald Trump, the first lady and other officials were evacuated. Allen was tackled and taken into custody unharmed.
Background
Allen earned a mechanical-engineering bachelor’s from Caltech (2017) and a computer-science master’s from California State University, Dominguez Hills (2025). He worked as an independent video-game developer and part-time teacher for C2 Education. He had no criminal record and legally bought his weapons, storing them at his parents’ home.
Official Statements
President Trump said the noise “sounded like a tray,” praised the Secret Service, called the assailant a “sick person,” and said the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen acted alone, investigators have no cooperating witness, and the manifesto targets administration officials. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer, with more charges expected.
Criticism & Opposition
Allen’s manifesto called the event’s security “insane,” noting protection focused on protestors and arrivals while early-checking guests were left vulnerable. He wrote, “The security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors… because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether Allen’s brother called New London police before or after the shooting. Federal officials have not publicly confirmed Trump as a specific target, describing motive as “still under investigation,” despite the anti-Trump language. The manifesto’s omission of FBI Director Kash Patel has not been independently verified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.” — Cole Thomas Allen, manifesto
- “Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person raped in a detention camp. I’m not the fisherman executed without trial,” — Cole Thomas Allen, manifesto
- “I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.” — Cole Thomas Allen, manifesto
- “In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls),” — Cole Thomas Allen, manifesto
What’s Next
Allen is slated for arraignment on Monday, where prosecutors are expected to add attempted-assassination and terrorism-related charges. The White House Correspondents’ Association plans to reconvene the dinner within 30 days after a security review.
