Trump states that the suspect in the shooting at the White House press dinner authored an anti-Christian manifesto

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the individual suspected of attempting to assault administration officials at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night possessed an anti-Christian manifesto and harbored “a lot of hatred in his heart” but was intercepted before reaching the hotel ballroom where the event took place.

Trump informed Fox News that the suspect was “a sick guy” and noted that his family had previously raised concerns about him with law enforcement officials. An official identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, who was apprehended at the scene of the incident in Washington, D.C. “When you read his manifesto, he expresses animosity towards Christians,” Trump stated during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Briefing” program.

A law enforcement official informed Reuters that the manifesto was dispatched to Allen’s family members just prior to the attack. The suspect referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” as stated by the official. The manifesto included the assertion, “Turning the other cheek when someone else is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes,” according to the official.

The manifesto outlined targets that included administration officials, though it did not mention FBI Director Kash Patel. These targets were prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest, according to the official.

The manifesto criticized the “insane” lack of security at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner took place, according to the official. “The one thing that struck me immediately upon entering the hotel was the palpable sense of arrogance,” the author of the manifesto reportedly stated. I enter carrying several weapons, yet no one present contemplates the chance that I might pose a threat.

The tumultuous events led to new inquiries about the safety of high-ranking U.S. officials, many of whom gathered in the hotel’s spacious ballroom. Trump capitalized on the attention generated by the incident to advocate for his proposed White House ballroom as a more secure and safer option for such events.

“Although it is beautiful, it boasts every top-tier security feature available… there are no rooms above for unsecured individuals to enter, and it is located within the gates of the most secure building in the world, the White House,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The suspect journeyed by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and subsequently to Washington, checking into the Hilton on Friday, as stated by acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche during various Sunday talk shows, who noted that Trump and key members of his administration were likely targets. In the United States, train passengers do not need to go through metal detectors similar to those found in airports.

Political violence

Authorities reported that the suspect discharged a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint within the Washington Hilton hotel prior to being subdued and taken into custody.

Trump, who previously boycotted the media gala, has asked for the dinner to be rescheduled within 30 days. Weijia Jiang, President of the White House Correspondents’ Association and a CBS reporter, announced that the board would convene to discuss their forthcoming actions.

The suspect is set to face charges in federal court on Monday for assaulting a federal officer, discharging a firearm, and attempting to kill a federal officer, according to Blanche, who also noted that he was unaware of any potential connection to Iran regarding the attack. Blanche indicated that additional federal indictments are forthcoming.

Saturday’s incident served as yet another reminder of the increasing wave of political violence that has emerged in the United States in recent years. Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was tragically shot dead at a rally last September, following the June 2025 murder of Democratic Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, along with the injury of a Minnesota state senator.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the days following Kirk’s murder found that Americans believe the increasingly harsh rhetoric surrounding politics is encouraging violence in the U.S. World leaders condemned the attack and expressed relief that Trump and everyone present were safe. NATO leader Mark Rutte described it as an attack “on our free and open societies,” with leaders emphasizing that violence has no place in a democracy.

A planned visit to the U.S. by King Charles of Britain, set to begin on Monday, will go ahead, according to Trump and British officials. “The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked swiftly to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit commencing tomorrow,” a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace stated on Sunday.

SUSPECT INTENDED TO ‘DO SOMETHING’

Details regarding the alleged shooter’s background were scarce initially, but social media activity suggested he was employed at C2 Education, a nationwide private test preparation and tutoring service. C2 Education stated that it is cooperating with law enforcement investigators.

Washington Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll stated that the suspect was equipped with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives.

A White House official stated that law enforcement officials who spoke with Allen’s sister were informed of his inclination to make radical statements, his attendance at an anti-Trump “No Kings” protest, and his mention of a plan to do “something” to address issues in today’s world.

According to a White House official, Allen acquired two handguns and a shotgun, which he kept at his parents’ residence.

The suspect resided with his parents in a two-story house situated on a tree-lined street adorned with picket fences and craftsman-style homes, located in the historic district of Torrance, a charming seaside town in the South Bay region of greater Los Angeles.

Residents in the middle-class neighborhood on Sunday reported that they were only casually familiar with him and his parents, with many stating they had never engaged in conversation beyond a quick hello or a wave as they distributed Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters.