The suspected gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner on Saturday evening appears to have specifically targeted President Trump and other senior administration officials, according to law enforcement and administration sources.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Sunday that what was meant to be a lighthearted evening celebrating free speech was violently interrupted by an individual intent on assassinating the president and killing as many top Trump officials as possible. Leavitt, who was backstage with Trump and the first lady when Secret Service rushed them to safety, described the president as fearless but quoted him calling for an end to political violence.
The shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. EDT at the Washington Hilton hotel. Trump was quickly moved from the dais to a secure presidential suite—a protocol established after the 1981 Reagan assassination attempt at the same venue. CBS News reported that the suspect left a manifesto stating he wanted to target White House officials in order of rank, from highest to lowest. An administration official confirmed the manifesto's existence to The Hill.
This incident follows three previous assassination attempts on Trump's life, including the July 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania rally where he was struck by a bullet, and two foiled plots in West Palm Beach, Florida. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told CNN on Sunday that the suspect could "absolutely" face charges of attempting to assassinate the president. Blanche noted the investigation is ongoing and the suspect is not cooperating.
Multiple outlets identified the suspect as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. According to Blanche, Allen traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago by train, then to Washington, D.C. The Associated Press reported that Allen's family received messages from him minutes before the attack, in which he railed against administration policies and called himself a "Friendly Federal Assassin."
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that Allen will be arraigned Monday on two charges: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. In a Sunday appearance on ABC's "This Week," Blanche praised the Secret Service and law enforcement response, stating that the system worked and the shooter barely got past the security perimeter.
For many in Trump's circle, the attack revived memories of the 2024 Butler shooting. White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino wrote on X that he never expected to hit the ground again after Butler, calling the experience a reminder of terrible memories. He expressed gratitude that everyone at the dinner was safe.
World leaders condemned the attack. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called it an assault on free and open societies, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said political violence has no place in any democracy and expressed relief that Trump and all guests were unharmed.
In a press briefing from the White House after the evacuation, Trump urged Americans to resolve their differences peacefully. The investigation continues as authorities seek to understand the suspect's motive fully.
