Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told press that authorities believe 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen targeted Donald Trump administration officials in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) shooting. Additionally, President Trump is now using the shooting incident to push past a lawsuit blocking his $400 million ballroom and bunker project.
Cole Allen Accused Of Being ‘Anti-Trump’ And ‘Anti-Christian’ In Alleged Social Media Posts And Manifesto
On Saturday evening (April 25), President Trump and his cabinet were rushed from the WHCD as shots rang out. Also included was First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, mentalist Oz Pearlman, and White House Correspondents Association President Weijia Jiang.
The suspected gunman is accused of breaching the security checkpoint in the lobby of the Washington, D.C. Hilton Hotel, armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. Cole, believed to be a hotel guest, allegedly shot one Secret Service agent before being taken down and into custody.
Allen’s initial charges include two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. He also faces assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. More federal charges are expected upon arraignment on Monday (April 27).
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has since claimed that federal officials have reason to believe Cole Allen targeted Trump officials based on alleged writings and interviews with his associates. Blanche declined to further reveal whether President Trump was a specific target. He only noted that he is part of the administration, targeted by Allen. Blanche also told press that Allen allegedly traveled by train to Washington, D.C. from Los Angeles, California.
Furthermore, authorities said they found “anti-Trump” and “anti-Christian” rhetoric on the suspect’s social media accounts. Allen was also reportedly part of a group called “The Wide Awakes” and attended a “No Kings” protest in California. According to The New York Post, Allen also sent a 1,052-word “manifesto” to his family about 10 minutes before the shooting. In it, he called himself “The Friendly Federal Assassin.”
“Hello everybody! So I may have given a lot of people a surprise today. Let me start off by apologizing to everyone whose trust I abused. I apologize to my parents for saying I had an interview without specifying it was for ‘Most Wanted.’ I apologize to my colleagues and students for saying I had a personal emergency (by the time anyone reads this, I probably most certainly DO need to go to the ER, but can hardly call that not a self-inflicted status).
I apologize to all of the people I traveled next to, all the workers who handled my luggage, and all the other non-targeted people at the hotel who I put in danger simply by being near. I apologize to everyone who was abused and/or murdered before this, to all those who suffered before I was able to attempt this, to all who may still suffer after, regardless of my success or failure.
I don’t expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it. Again, my sincere apologies. I am a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes. (Well, to be completely honest, I was no longer willing a long time ago, but this is the first real opportunity I’ve had to do something about it).
While I’m discussing this, I’ll also go over my expected rules of engagement (probably in a terrible format, but I’m not military so too bad). Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest Secret Service: they are targets only if necessary, and to be incapacitated non-lethally if possible (aka, I hope they’re wearing body armor because center mass with shotguns messes up people who aren’t Hotel Security: not targets if at all possible (aka unless they shoot at me). Capitol Police: same as Hotel Security. National Guard: same as Hotel Security. Hotel Employees: not targets at all. Guests: not targets at all.
In order to minimize casualties I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls). I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people chose to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn’t come to that….”
President Donald Trump Uses White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting To Push For Construction On $400M East Wing Ballroom & Bunker
Following the WHCD shooting, President Trump confirmed he and his cabinet were okay. He also used the shooting to further reason why he needs his $400 million White House East Wing ballroom/bunker. In March, a federal judge ordered Trump to halt his project after a lawsuit was filed to block construction.
U.S.. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a request for a preliminary injunction by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The company is a non-profit organization that sued to block the ballroom’s construction. The organization alleged Trump had exceeded his authority by bulldozing the East Wing and beginning construction without approval from Congress.
On Sunday (April 26), Trump told Truth Social:
“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE. This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House. The ridiculous Ballroom lawsuit, brought by a woman walking her dog, who has absolutely No Standing to bring such a suit, must be dropped, immediately. Nothing should be allowed to interfere with with its construction, which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
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