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

[Sundog]

Does this country really need a White House Correspondents Dinner? Seems like a waste of money. Money that can be better used elsewhere.

The members of the WHC Association raise money at the dinner to support WHC Association Scholars. One of our student journalists locally was at the dinner and is one of the Association's Scholars. I think it's a worthy cause and it is funded voluntarily by their members who are WH correspondents. Educational opportunities like this for our young people isn't a waste of money, IMO.

 

[Sundog]

Cole Tomas Allen made a hotel reservation at the Washington Hilton for three nights, from Friday to Sunday, according to a newly unsealed probable cause affidavit.

He traveled by train from his home near Los Angeles to Chicago last Tuesday, arriving in Chicago on Thursday, the affidavit says. Then he boarded a train that arrived in Washington on Friday around 1 p.m.

Two hours later, around 3 p.m., he checked into a "specific hotel room" at the Hilton and remained there overnight, the affidavit says.C

Suspect's travel to D.C. detailed in new court document

Cole Tomas Allen made a hotel reservation at the Washington Hilton for three nights, from Friday to Sunday, according to a newly unsealed probable cause

www.nbcnews.com

And CA made his hotel reservation on April 6th. So he planned to assassinate the President and members of the Administration well before he left the LA area to travel to Washington, DC.

 

[Sundog]

. It could just be bad reporting, but in his press conference Todd Blanche was very cagey about why Cole Allen hadn't been charged with shooting the officer.

I watched the DOJ's press conference and I didn't see anything "cagey" about AG Blanche's remarks. He was completely forthcoming about the situation and stated that ballistics are still being analyzed and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia stated that additional charges could be forthcoming. This is all not unusual for a criminal investigation that has been underway for only 48 approximate hours.

 

[SouthAussie]

And CA made his hotel reservation on April 6th. So he planned to assassinate the President and members of the Administration well before he left the LA area to travel to Washington, DC.

Yes, it was announced on 2nd March that Trump would attend the WHCD. Plenty of time for Cole to make his plans and bookings.



Tue 3 Mar 2026 11.17 AEDT

Donald Trump said Monday he will attend the White House correspondents’ association dinner for the first time as president.

Trump will attend White House Correspondents’ Dinner for first time as president

Trump boycotted the dinner in 2017 and has not attended any in either of his terms as president

www.theguardian.com

 

[Spyralflare]

Violence is Rare in Autism: When It Does Occur, Is It Sometimes Extreme? - PubMed

A small body of literature has suggested that, rather than being more likely to engage in offending or violent behavior, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may actually have an increased risk of being the victim rather than the perpetrator of violence (Sobsey, Wells, Lucardie, & Man …

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Betty P]

Absolutely. I couldn't agree with you more. It has never happened before at any event, as far as I know. I don't believe the vice-president has ever been there when the president was. Now, to have everyone without a designated survivor? Kiefer Sutherland would like a word.

It's especially bizarre that everyone in the presidential line of succession would be in one place at the same time since that's how the US just killed the entire senior leadership of Iran only weeks ago. Plus, the US is at war and the President warned about terrorism from extensive Iranian sleeper cells in the US. It raises concerns about decision making. Let's hope the enormous breach of security protocol reframes risk assessment.

All JMO.

My assumption is Trump wanted everyone there. The WH Correspondents Dinner never had that many members of the Administration there before. It’s an event for journalists, not politicians. It seemed very unusual. I don’t watch it every year, but I do most. It’s impossible to predict if Trump will make changes back to standard safety protocol. He usually prefers to ignore established rules and safety measures.

 

[Katrinepa]

The third attempt that made it this far. Secret Service deals with things like this all the time, and usually intervene long before it comes to this.

True, But in his Manifesto, he talks about the administration, and does not mention Trump himself at all. He is now being charged with attempting to murder Trump, but he did not physically get even close to him. The venue was in the large basement, and the shooter did not enter that floor at all. Weak charge, moo

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Who would ever want to be President anymore?

I hope we have some amazing and fearless Presidents in the future. Some who genuinely care about the country and its people, environmental protection, helping the most vulnerable, bringing people together, who can inspire hope and bring out the best in people, help the country grow and make needed changes.

Horrible events like this are a symptom, IMO.
The suspect doesn't appear to be a mentally ill nor personality disordered person. I am glad he survived. What made someone who just worked to earn his Master's degree last year, and who was an admired educator, who had hope all along, decide to give it up and that this was his next step in life?

 

[Katrinepa]

The shooter wrote that he was going to use birdshot- lots of small pellets in the shot gun shell. That's not verified that I know of. The size of the pellets vary on up to a slug- one big solid pellet like you'd use for deer and bigger game.

The quote I read was buckshot. I have no knowledge of guns overall, but that is the word he used in his 'manifesto'.

 

[Katrinepa]

I hope we have some amazing and fearless Presidents in the future. Some who genuinely care about the country and its people, environmental protection, helping the most vulnerable, bringing people together, who can inspire hope and bring out the best in people, help the country grow and make needed changes.

Horrible events like this are a symptom, IMO.
The suspect doesn't appear to be a mentally ill nor personality disordered person. I am glad he survived. What made someone who just worked to earn his Master's degree last year, and who was an admired educator, who had hope all along, decide to give it up and that this was his next step in life?

While I agree in part, he must have had a mental 'break' that led him to this violent action sadly. <modsnip: off topic>
Also shocking to me that any teacher would us his guns to try and kill anyone. That person, no matter who/what he once was/acted like, should not be allowed anywhere near children, impov. Very sad situation overall, and frankly, very odd total circumstances overall, aside from the shooter. Tragic for all associated with this young man. moo

 

[Yellowbelly]

The quote I read was buckshot. I have no knowledge of guns overall, but that is the word he used in his 'manifesto'.

Shotgun cartridges. They contain a number of small metal balls, traditionally made of lead, which shoot out of the gun when it's fired.

The balls come in different sizes. Birdshot is small balls suitable for killing birds, whilst buckshot consists of larger balls capable of taking down a larger game animal like a deer.

Or a person, if you're that way inclined.

Shotgun cartridge - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[indicolite22]

While I agree in part, he must have had a mental 'break' that led him to this violent action sadly. <modsnip: off topic>
Also shocking to me that any teacher would us his guns to try and kill anyone. That person, no matter who/what he once was/acted like, should not be allowed anywhere near children, impov. Very sad situation overall, and frankly, very odd total circumstances overall, aside from the shooter. Tragic for all associated with this young man. moo

He wasn't a teacher but a part-time tutor to highschool graduates. There were others who were teachers that murdered, like in the case from Arkansas where a primary school teacher killed two parents at a state park.

 

[303gmf]

Jeffrey Sachs on Trump, Netanyahu, and the war in Iran. Spot on analysis.

Excellent listen!
Thank you for sharing

 

[PrairieWind]

Oh I see. I wasn't aware of that ability. Thanks for educating me on that.

I'd be fine with all the journalists to be there live, but the Presidential succession? Best if they aren't all there in person IMO. Others had brought up 'what if there was a bomb?' I can't even image if we lost the the entire succession. What then?

Isn't it like the State of the Union speech where everyone is there? And they leave a designated survivor somewhere else?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The first count is attempted assassination of the President of the United States. This count is punishable by up to life in prison,” said Acting Attorney Todd Blanche at a press conference soon after the arraignment of Cole Tomas Allen.

“The second count is interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony,” Blanche said.

“The third count is discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, which is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum of life, and the 10 years is consecutive to any other sentence imposed,” he noted.

Before it was done, federal prosecutor Jocelyn Ballentine told the magistrate that Allen had committed acts of terrorism, but he was noticeably not charged with terrorism. This means that he does not now face a death sentence, which may be more a policy choice by Blanche.

The California man, who described himself as the friendly federal assassin, was not asked to enter a plea for the charges because he was just assigned his court-appointed public defender, Tezira Abe.

Sharbaugh said he was inclined to grant Ballentine’s request for pretrial detention, but Abe countered that because Allen has no prior record, he should be granted a detention hearing to determine if he can be released before the trial. The judge consented, and that hearing was scheduled.

Accused WHCA Dinner Shooter Meets Judge, Secret Service Is On Trial

Man Accused In WHCA Dinner Shooting Faces Charges As Security Questions Mount.

southshorepress.com

 

[PrairieWind]

I think the Secret Service needs to be sent back to the Treasury Department. Lumping everything under Homeland Security doesn't seem to have been good for many agencies.

 

[IceIce9]

Isn't it like the State of the Union speech where everyone is there? And they leave a designated survivor somewhere else?

This year the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins was the designated survivor for State of the Union.

He is 16th in succession to the presidency.

 

[otto]

Who would ever want to be President anymore?

Assassination attempts seem to be more about this particular president, not all presidents. This president may go down in history as the most shot-at president.

 

[otto]

While I agree in part, he must have had a mental 'break' that led him to this violent action sadly. <modsnip: off topic>
Also shocking to me that any teacher would us his guns to try and kill anyone. That person, no matter who/what he once was/acted like, should not be allowed anywhere near children, impov. Very sad situation overall, and frankly, very odd total circumstances overall, aside from the shooter. Tragic for all associated with this young man. moo

I'm surprised that someone with mental health problems was approved to be a part-time teacher.

 

[SophieRose]

https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/27/politics/line-of-succession-white-house-correspondents-dinner-vis

At least 13 presidential successors attended the WHCD.​