Full Breakdown
Recent Assassination Plots Targeting President Donald Trump: A Deep Dive
5/18/2026, 12:56:48 AM
Assassination Plots Against President Donald Trump
- Daniel Swain, 41, wrote “HEADED TO WSH TO KILL THE PRES” and “TELL DONALD HE IS FIRED” on his black BMW X5 in South Carolina. Police in North Carolina stopped the vehicle after a 911 call from a car-wash attendant and arrested Swain. He also posted threats online, including “F— you, Donald Trump.” Swain is slated for a federal detention hearing on June 2.
- Cole Tomas Allen, 31, entered the Washington Hilton’s security checkpoint during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 26, 2026, carrying a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38 handgun, and three knives. An agent was shot in the chest despite a vest. Allen was charged with attempted assassination and faces a detention hearing.
Official Statements & Legal Actions
The DOJ complaint characterizes Swain’s window messages as “in all caps” and cites the 911 call as the trigger for police action. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of North Carolina indicated forthcoming charges for threatening the president. The FBI affidavit describes Allen’s conduct as a “political assassination” attempt and lists the recovered weapons. Both cases have resulted in federal charges and scheduled detention hearings.
Public Perception & Conspiracy Theories
Surveys cited by NewsGuard show 42 % of Democrats believe the 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania, shooting was staged, while 34 % think the WHCD shooting was fabricated. One-third of Democrats and one-eighth of Republicans consider the WHCD incident staged. Overall, 24 % of all respondents think the Butler attempt was staged. Podcaster Joe Rogan linked these beliefs to TikTok, calling the platform “f---ing ruined” and asserting that “the people that thought that the Butler, Pennsylvania one was staged don’t know anything about guns.” The Washington Examiner described the skepticism as a left-wing narrative questioning the authenticity of multiple attempts on Trump’s life.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The FBI affidavit does not identify who fired the shot that wounded the Secret Service agent. Swain’s statements vacillate between planning violence and claiming a “legal protest.” Public polls reveal divergent views on the incidents’ authenticity, contrasting with official accounts. The complaint mentions a “violent message directing the reader to commit suicide” on Swain’s vehicle, but the message’s content is undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “[Swain] told agent he 'wussed out of doing what he was going to do.'” — Daniel Swain, suspect
- “F— you, Donald Trump,” — Daniel Swain, online post
- “I'm coming up there to blow your a— up,” — Daniel Swain, online post
- “This is TikTok. It’s f---ing ruined,” — Joe Rogan, podcaster
- “Rotting their f---ing brains out from inside their heads.” — Joe Rogan, podcaster
- “The people that thought that the Butler, Pennsylvania one was staged don't know anything about guns,” — Joe Rogan, podcaster
