Story perspectives

Wisconsin Owner Celebrates Trump Death; Shooter Arrested at Dinner

4/28/2026

Left

Brewery Owner Celebrates

A Wisconsin brewery owner posted celebratory messages about U.S. President Donald Trump’s death, sparking statewide Democratic outrage.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, shot a Secret Service agent at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and was arrested.
Wisconsin Democrats called the post completely unacceptable and demanded universal condemnation of political violence.
Missy Hughes called the rhetoric a scourge on democracy and urged universal denunciation.

Right

Trump Praises Response

President Donald Trump lauded the Secret Service for quickly neutralizing the shooter, urging the dinner to proceed.
Cole Tomas Alan, 31, from Torrance, California, opened fire at hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and was arrested.
A pre-attack manifesto titled “Friendly Federal Assassin” expressed apologies to his family.
National Guard troops secured the venue while Acting Attorney General Jeanine Pirro announced assault charges.

Center

Allen Arrested

Cole Tomas Allen sent a pre-attack manifesto labeling himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and apologizing to his family.
Authorities arrested him at the Washington Hilton White House Correspondents’ Dinner after breaching security, keeping him in custody.
Allen entered the checkpoint carrying a 12-gauge shotgun, a 1911 .38 pistol and three knives.
An officer survived thanks to a ballistic vest, prompting attempted-assassination and firearm charges against Allen.

Blindspot

Left coverage gave less weight to the extensive weapon details and federal charges described in the Center summary, focusing instead on political reactions to the brewery owner's post.
Right coverage did not include the Center’s enumeration of the shotgun, pistol, knives and the specific attempted-assassination and firearm-transport charges.

History

Historical Context

In September 1975, Charles Manson follower Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pointed a Colt .45 at President Gerald Ford in Sacramento; Secret Service agent Larry Buendorf seized the gun. Seventeen days later, Sara Jane Moore fired a .38 revolver at Ford in San Francisco, missing after bystander Oliver Sipple intervened. The twin attacks prompted permanent Secret Service distance protocols and Ford’s October-1975 bullet-proof trench coat.

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Brewery Owner Celebrates

A Wisconsin brewery owner posted celebratory messages about U.S. President Donald Trump’s death, sparking statewide Democratic outrage.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, shot a Secret Service agent at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and was arrested.
Wisconsin Democrats called the post completely unacceptable and demanded universal condemnation of political violence.
Missy Hughes called the rhetoric a scourge on democracy and urged universal denunciation.

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