DC-Shooting at White House Correspondents Dinner, April 25, 2026

[Yellowbelly]

there were two on Ford in under a month

edit: depending on what you call an "attempt", plenty of presidents have had more than 3. that includes aborted plans and unserious attempts that failed badly or were disrupted in advance.

Since 1789, 45 men have held office as President of the United States. During that time four have been assassinated whilst in office (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy), one seriously wounded whilst in office (Reagan), and two wounded whilst running for election (T. Roosevelt, Trump). That's seven, or 15%, of all the Presidents who've been shot at some point during their political life.

It's a dangerous profession!

 

[indicolite22]

I think he sent the manifesto to his family members because he did not think that he would be alive at the end of the night.

Obviously he doesn't value his own life very much.

 

[NuttMegg]

Sounds to me like Cole thought he would be stopped before he started.

Then, when that didn't happen, dampered his own actions. Ie waiting until metal detectors were being dismantled, and all guests were on their salads before running in blasting away. Not yet even on the right floor. Much less the right room.

There was nothing in his plan to actually target the prez or others on his list. Buckshot, knives, a handgun to balance.

Depending on his past, this may be a mental health defense. Simply because success was so improbable.

Also, his whole thing would be laughable in a video game. No one would buy it.

Imo.

 

[elliefant]

King's US visit will go ahead as planned, Buckingham Palace says King's US visit will go ahead as planned, Buckingham Palace says

 

[KBlackRabbit]

I hope Polymarket is watched for bets. Just sayin’

 

[NuttMegg]

King's US visit will go ahead as planned, Buckingham Palace says King's US visit will go ahead as planned, Buckingham Palace says

Oh I trust the Brits to let's say "contribute" to security.

 

[statt#1]

My opinion...

The dude has serious mental health issues, as seen time and time again in cases such as these.

His 'manifesto' reads more like a suicide note.

Also, each time the history of these whackos comes forth, somebody knew something. This case is no different.

 

[Vern]

Since 1789, 45 men have held office as President of the United States. During that time four have been assassinated whilst in office (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy), one seriously wounded whilst in office (Reagan), and two wounded whilst running for election (T. Roosevelt, Trump). That's seven, or 15%, of all the Presidents who've been shot at some point during their political life.

It's a dangerous profession!

As a Canadian, I'd also add in Robert Kennedy as he was actively running for the Dem Presidential candidacy when assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan due to to his support for Israel IIRC.

Indeed, it's a dangerous profession!

 

[Gemmie]

Obviously he doesn't value his own life very much.

I don't think he had anything to do with his own life. Martyrdom comes to mind.

 

[Bodhi]

Is this the 2nd assassination attempt on President Trump? I don't believe any other United States President has had, and survived 2 assassination attempts.

There were 2 assassination attempts on Ford in September 1975.

 

[Arkay]

How did Cole Tomas Allen know what the Hilton security weakness would be before he traveled all that way?

That’s a fair question.

Maybe since he was able to book a room on the same night in the same hotel as when Trump et.al. would be there?

I would expect that if I tried to reserve a room at the Hilton for that night, I would be told that there was no availability, but that they would be happy to have me there the next night. (In proper hospitality language).

Just guessing.

 

[NuttMegg]

As a Canadian, I'd also add in Robert Kennedy as he was actively running for the Dem Presidential candidacy when assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan due to to his support for Israel IIRC.

Indeed, it's a dangerous profession!

And Wallace, 1972. Paralyzed waist down for life.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

ETA: Now Trump's message is: "This is why we need the new ballroom". How about fewer galas and parties?

I wonder if King Charles will cancel his upcoming visit? I wouldn't blame him if he did.

The lack of space at the White House and limitations put on large gatherings and seating for dinners has been an issue and talked about by other presidents and first ladies. It doesn't need defending, the security issues alone make it a far more safe place to control for entertaining "in place", for all of our government and visiting heads of state. These international dinners and celebratory events are long held traditions for our country and have a purpose. They aren't random parties.
King Charles has confirmed he is not cancelling his visit.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

There was nothing in his plan to actually target the prez or others on his list.

From the "manifesto"

Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest

Exclusive | Read White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman Cole Allen’s full anti-Trump manifesto

In the 1,052-word missive obtained by The Post Sunday morning outlined Allen’s “rules of engagement” for the shooting and stated he believed it was his righteous duty to target ad…

nypost.com

 

[NuttMegg]

From the "manifesto"

Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest

Exclusive | Read White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman Cole Allen’s full anti-Trump manifesto

In the 1,052-word missive obtained by The Post Sunday morning outlined Allen’s “rules of engagement” for the shooting and stated he believed it was his righteous duty to target ad…

nypost.com

I meant more than just words in a text.

Assuming he finally got to the correct floor after spraying buckshot pellets, then to the correct room, with a mass of 2600 ppl, where was his plan to find his targets. And prioritize them.

In effect he had no plan.

 

[mickey2942]

This gunman's deranged/unhinged ( and alarming to family ) rants quoted above sound awfully familiar to me.

Where have I heard these before?

Looking at MSM here, as one possible clue. Social Media? Without a doubt.

IMO

I believe that the official/unofficial diagnosis is "Trump Derangement Syndrome". I wonder if that will be put in the new DSM-5.

They have actually put forth a bill to fund study on this.

Trump derangement syndrome - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Arkay]

Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest

It’s so perplexing to me that he excluded “Mr. Patel” for some reason.

Is it because Patel is a man of color as is Allen? That seems to me to be too trivial a distinction in 2026, but only Allen knows.

It’s such a shame in every way, this attempted attack, because his manifesto shows what seemed to have been a man with some consideration for not wanting to harm the Secret Service or other LE personnel.

He also seems apologetic to his family, students etc. and is clearly intelligent.

He COULD have been a man who did great things with his life, instead of ending up face down in handcuffs with violence on his mind.

JMO, but really more of a guess than an opinion.

 

[crhedBngr]

NYTimes shared article.

It was chaos inside the Washington Hilton ballroom on Saturday night, but not for one man who stayed in his chair, picking at a burrata salad as the people around him ducked for cover.

Most Guests Ducked for Cover. This Man Munched on His Burrata Salad.

 

[Gemmie]

It’s so perplexing to me that he excluded “Mr. Patel” for some reason.

Is it because Patel is a man of color as is Allen? That seems to me to be too trivial a distinction in 2026, but only Allen knows.

That is exactly what came to my mind (a man of color) when I read the exclusion.

 

[SophieRose]

That is exactly what came to my mind (a man of color) when I read the exclusion.

Not in the presidential line of succession?

United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

No. Office[3] Incumbent Party
1 Vice President JD Vance Republican
2 Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson Republican
3 President pro tempore of the Senate Chuck Grassley Republican
4 Secretary of State Marco Rubio Republican
5 Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent Republican
6 Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Republican
7[A] Attorney General Todd Blanche Republican
8 Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum Republican
9 Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Republican
10 Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick Republican
11[A] Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling Republican
12 Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Independent
13 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner Republican
14 Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy Republican
15 Secretary of Energy Chris Wright Republican
16 Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Republican
17 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins Republican
18 Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin Republican