A gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. Authorities confirmed Allen intended to target members of the Trump administration, as detailed in a manifesto he allegedly wrote before the attack. The manifesto, obtained by the New York Post, includes anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric, with passages referencing President Trump directly. Allen was subdued and taken into custody after exchanging fire with Secret Service agents. No attendees were seriously injured, though one agent was shot and is expected to recover.
Former President Barack Obama addressed the shooting on Sunday, stating that the motive remained unclear despite the manifesto's existence. 'Although we don't yet have the details about the motives behind last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, it's incumbent upon us all to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,' Obama posted on X. His remarks drew criticism from some who pointed to the manifesto as evidence of the gunman's intent.
President Donald Trump blamed Democrats for radicalizing individuals like Allen, claiming they fund extremist groups. In an interview with CBS News, Trump said, 'I see these 'No Kings,' which were funded just like the Southern Law was funded... It's a total scam, run by the Democrats.' He also argued that the far-left spreads violent rhetoric, calling it 'very dangerous for the country.'
Actress Patricia Heaton, a vocal critic of Trump, urged her 'friends on the left' to tone down extreme political rhetoric following the shooting. On X, she wrote, 'I wasn’t happy when Clinton, Obama or Biden won, but I didn’t call them fascist/dangerous/threat to democracy. I didn’t hope someone would assassinate them. I went on with my life with gratitude. Friends on the left, please try this.'
Authorities continue to investigate the shooting and the manifesto's contents. The White House Correspondents' Dinner was postponed after the incident.