WHCA dinner suspect faces detention hearing for alleged plot to assassinate Trump
Fox News legal editor Kerri Urbahn and former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty discuss the detention hearing for Cole Allen, the alleged gunman from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Allen is accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump. New security camera footage from the Washington Hilton reveals the moments after Allen breached security.
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The man who allegedly attempted to kill President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25 may have been motivated by the current conflict in Iran.
According to a Department of Homeland Security preliminary intelligence report viewed by Reuters, Allen had “multiple social and political grievances,” and the report says that the war in Iran “may have contributed to his decision to conduct the attack.”
The report, which was labeled as a “Critical Incident Note,” was originally obtained via a public records request by a nonprofit called Property of the People, according to Reuters. It reportedly cited Allen’s social media posts about the Iranian war to justify its conclusion.
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SHOOTING: TIMELINE TRACES HOW SUSPECT’S ALLEGED CROSS-COUNTRY PLAN UNFOLDED
Cole Allen is seen armed in a hotel room. (Department of Justice)
“DHS shares Critical Incident Notes to quickly communicate information and intelligence to federal, state, and local authorities,” the agency told Fox News Digital in a statement. “These reports notify our partners of the latest available information following significant incidents that have impacts to homeland security. DHS does not publicly comment on the information contained in internal law enforcement communications.”
Allen’s anti-Trump sentiments were expressed in a so-called manifesto, according to authorities.
UNABOMBER INVESTIGATOR REVEALS LIKELY BREAKING POINT OF ALLEGED WOULD-BE TRUMP ASSASSIN
Minutes before the attack, a pre-scheduled email from Allen was sent to his family and friends, explaining his actions, authorities said.
He allegedly acknowledged that his mission would likely severely harm him at the least, but never stated that he was willing to die for his cause. His motivations were political, and he painted himself as a savior of those who he thinks have been oppressed by the current administration.
Allen apologized profusely to family, friends and everyone he had come in contact with on his cross-country trek. He noted that there were certain people he hoped wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire, and described himself as “friendly.”
A sketch shows Cole Allen standing in court before Magistrate Judge Dana Verkouteren on May 4, 2026. (Dana Verkouteren)
COLE ALLEN IDENTIFIED AS SUSPECT IN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SHOOTING
Allen entered a lobby outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton at 8:36 p.m. on April 25 after descending from his 10th-floor hotel room.
Security footage allegedly shows him charging through a magnetometer before firing one shot from a 12-gauge shotgun. A pellet from the buckshot struck a Secret Service agent’s ballistic vest. The agent did not suffer serious injuries.
One agent fired five rounds at Allen, but did not hit him. Allen fell to the ground and was apprehended.
He is currently incarcerated inside a Washington, D.C., jail.
Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Donald J Trump via Truth Social/Handout via Reuters)
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He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 11.
Fox News Digital reached out to Allen’s attorney.