Cole Tomas Allen
Washington Hilton, Terrace Level (White House Correspondents' Dinner), Washington, DC ·
White House Correspondents' Association Dinner; Trump, Vance, Cabinet and First Lady in attendance
Latest update The Hill
Cole Allen will remain locked up ahead of trial Target
Donald J. Trump
Perpetrator
Full name Cole Tomas Allen
Age at time 31
Date of birth Not publicly reported
Gender Male
Race / ethnicity African American
Nationality American
Residence Torrance, CA
Education California Institute of Technology - B.S. Mechanical Engineering (2017); California State University, Dominguez Hills - M.S. Computer Science (May 2025)
Occupation Part-time tutor at C2 Education (named 'Teacher of the Month', December 2024); self-employed indie video-game developer; released game 'Bohrdom' on Steam
Political affiliation Left-wing activist per family interviews; vocal critic of the Trump administration, the U.S. war with Iran, and Russia's war in Ukraine on a verified Bluesky account
Mental health (reported) Family described escalating radicalisation in the months prior; no formal diagnosis publicly reported
Prior criminal record Not publicly reported
Prior weapons training Sister told investigators Allen had acquired firearms and was regularly practising at a Los Angeles-area firing range
Online footprint Posts and reposts critical of Trump on Bluesky; published indie game 'Bohrdom' on Steam; called himself a 'friendly federal assassin' in writings cited by The Washington Post
Family background Parents publicly said they were shocked by the arrest; sister provided investigators with details on his radicalisation
Attempt & outcome
Weapons & equipment Long gun (rifle); Handgun; Knives
Rounds fired - perpetrator 2
Rounds fired - law enforcement -
Distance to target -
Trump present Yes
Trump injured No
Bystander casualties 0 killed · 0 injured
Law-enforcement casualties 0 killed · 1 injured
Current status Charged, pending trial
Sentence Charged with attempt to assassinate the President; transportation of firearm/ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony; discharge of firearm during a crime of violence. Faces life in prison.
Preparation Transported firearms in interstate commerce; mailed a written note to family ≈10 minutes before the attack; ran past a magnetometer at the Terrace Level security checkpoint
Motive
Believed it was his 'duty' to target Trump administration officials over administration policies including the war with Iran; left-wing radicalisation documented in family interviews; investigators say he intended multiple targets.
“Note sent to family ≈10 minutes before the attack: 'I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.'”
Key facts
- Caltech graduate and named 'Teacher of the Month' months before the attack
- Shot a Secret Service officer once in the chest; ballistic vest stopped the round
- Survived return fire with minor injuries (not shot)
- Wrote of himself as a 'friendly federal assassin' in materials cited by the Washington Post
- Trump, Vance, and the First Lady were evacuated from the Hilton