Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Saturday took aim at former President Barack Obama’s reaction to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting, calling it “disappointing” for failing to acknowledge what he says is a clear anti-Trump motive.
In an interview on Fox News, Blanche argued that even preliminary evidence—including charges filed against the suspect—makes the political nature of the attack obvious. “It’s pretty incredible that a leader, a former leader like President Obama would say that,” Blanche said. “Actually, literally just covering his eyes to what we know is happening.”
Obama, in a statement posted on X the day after the April 25 incident, condemned political violence but noted that “we don’t yet have the details about the motives.” He also praised the Secret Service for their response and expressed relief that an agent wounded in the exchange was expected to recover. “It’s incumbent upon all of us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” Obama wrote.
Blanche countered that the evidence tells a different story. “We know why President Trump was allegedly targeted by this individual,” he said, citing the complaint and additional evidence gathered since the shooting. The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, faces charges of attempting to assassinate President Trump, along with two other federal counts related to disrupting the black-tie event at the Washington Hilton and transporting firearms. Allen has not yet entered a plea and agreed to remain in custody ahead of his May 11 trial. If convicted on the assassination attempt charge, he faces up to life in prison.
Trump Allies Echo Criticism
Other prominent Republicans joined Blanche in challenging Obama’s framing. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) responded directly to Obama’s post, writing, “It was politically motivated. He made that pretty clear.” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin also weighed in, urging Obama not to “pretend to be this clueless about motive.” Zeldin noted that the suspect had published an anti-Trump manifesto minutes before attempting to storm a ballroom filled with the president, vice president, Cabinet members, and other administration officials.
The criticism comes as conspiracy theories about the incident have circulated online. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back against claims that the shooting was staged, while the Secret Service and Trump have dismissed suggestions that the wounded agent was hit by friendly fire. For more on that, read our report on how officials have rejected the friendly fire theory.
Blanche’s remarks are part of a broader effort by Trump allies to shape the narrative around the shooting. The acting attorney general’s comments also echo his earlier denial that the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey was an audition for his current role, as covered in this analysis. Meanwhile, some media figures have refused to soften their anti-Trump rhetoric in the wake of the attack, as detailed in this piece.
The WHCA dinner shooting has intensified political divisions, with each side accusing the other of exploiting the tragedy. For a full timeline of the suspect’s charges and the legal proceedings, see our ongoing coverage.
