Story perspectives

Shooter Fires at Washington Hilton Dinner, Cites Anti-Trump Grievances

4/29/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Cole Tomas Allen flew from California to Washington, D.C., before opening fire at the Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton, was subdued, and emailed a manifesto calling himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin” with anti-Trump grievances.
Allen purchased a .38-caliber pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun in August 2025, passing FBI checks.
The attack forced U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady’s evacuation and led officials to question security.

History

Historical Context

By March 30 1972, the Weather Underground—responsible for the 1970 National Guard Association bomb and the 1971 Capitol blast ($300,000 damage)—detonated a bomb at the Washington Hilton during a Democratic National Committee gathering. The attack followed a wave of left-wing anti-war bombings, such as the May 19 1972 Pentagon blast that caused about $80,000 in damage, underscoring rising domestic militancy against federal venues.

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Story summary

Cole Tomas Allen flew from California to Washington, D.C., before opening fire at the Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton, was subdued, and emailed a manifesto calling himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin” with anti-Trump grievances.
Allen purchased a .38-caliber pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun in August 2025, passing FBI checks.
The attack forced U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady’s evacuation and led officials to question security.

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