The suspect who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ (WHCA) Dinner Saturday, Cole Allen, was charged Monday.
Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, was charged with the transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and attempt to assassinate the U.S. president, according to a complaint filed Monday. (RELATED: A Hardcore Lefty Tried To Murder Trump And His Team. Liberals Try To Use Cliché Scapegoat)
The assassination attempt charge carries up to a life sentence, Politico reported. The charges were brought against Allen at a preliminary hearing in Washington, D.C. Allen received the services of two veteran public defenders and will have a hearing to discuss longer-term detention planned for Thursday, the outlet reported.
Allen allegedly rushed through a security checkpoint at the WHCA dinner in the Washington Hilton while armed before he was detained and placed in custody. Trump and other officials were evacuated from the area before making a statement online and hosting a press briefing at the White House.
(L/R) White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US First Lady Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump and CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang attend the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
At the White House press briefing immediately following the attempt, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the charges Allen will face “should be self-evident given the conduct.”
“But as you’ll hear, there will be multiple charges surrounding the shooting, around the possession of firearms and anything else we can get on this guy,” Blanche said, adding that the investigation had only started.
Allen allegedly sent an over 1,000-word manifesto to family members 10 minutes before the shooting.