Suspect Charged in Attempted Assassination of Trump at Correspondents' Dinner

Federal authorities charged 31-year-old Cole Allen with attempted assassination of President Trump, discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and transporting a weapon across state lines with intent to commit a felony. The charges, unsealed by the Department of Justice, stem from an incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, where Allen allegedly rushed the venue armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and three knives.

He fired at least one shot, injuring a Secret Service agent who has since been released from the hospital. He appeared in federal court on Monday in a blue jail jumpsuit, represented by lawyers from the federal defender's office. A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday, and prosecutors indicated additional charges may follow.

Investigators recovered a manifesto from Allen, in which he expressed intent to target Trump and other senior administration officials. ” Federal authorities are examining Allen's online activity, including possible posts on Bluesky under the username “coldforce,” which promoted liberal views.

A Post analysis of visuals showed Allen sprinted 60 feet and reached a staircase to the ballroom after racing through a magnetometer. He was tackled by law enforcement officers before entering the room, which contained President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and other high-ranking officials.

No one inside the ballroom was harmed.

The incident raised questions about security protocols at the event. Allen's manifesto reportedly mocked what he called an “insane” lack of security. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump retains trust in the Secret Service but stated that changes to protective arrangements are not out of the question.

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is convening senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, and the West Wing to review security measures in the coming days. Leavitt noted that the president was rushed off the stage during the chaos.

Leavitt described repeated attempts on Trump's life as flowing from such rhetoric. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed this, stating that overly critical media coverage without evidence contributes to violence. ” Kimmel defended the joke on his show Monday, saying it was not a call to assassination.

" — Todd Blanche, acting attorney-general, Monday (Financial Times) Several Democratic Senate candidates faced scrutiny from Republicans for past aggressive rhetoric. ” The NRSC called for Democrats to condemn the shooting and lower political temperatures.

The incident is described as the third apparent assassination attempt on Trump. It has prompted congressional Republicans to rally around Trump's proposed $40 million White House ballroom project, with Senate Republicans proposing a bill to authorize $400 million in federal funds.

The Justice Department is pressuring a preservation group to drop a lawsuit halting construction, and only one Democrat has supported advancing the project so far. In unrelated developments mentioned in coverage, King Charles is set to address Congress on Tuesday during his state visit, expected to reference strained UK-US relations amid Trump's criticism of Britain's stance on Iran.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, citing a lack of strategy and economic impacts on Germany, including a halved 2026 growth forecast to 0.5 percent. The Trump administration fired all 22 members of the National Science Board overseeing the National Science Foundation.

Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposal for redistricting congressional maps in the state. Lebanon's environment minister accused Israel's military of ecocide in operations against Hezbollah, reporting damage to 12,350 acres of forest and destruction of 5,320 acres of orchards between 2023 and 2024.

A patchy ceasefire is in place, but violations have been reported.