Man Arrested After Attempted Assassination at White House Correspondents' Dinner; Manifesto Detailed Plans

Gate News message, April 27 — Cole Thomas Allen, 31, was arrested after attempting to carry out an assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 26. According to a manifesto obtained by the New York Post, Allen outlined detailed plans targeting administration officials, with priority given to high-ranking positions. Allen checked into the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the event was held, one or two days prior to the incident, armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives.

In the manifesto, sent to family members 10 minutes before the attack, Allen stated his intent to minimize casualties by using low-penetration buckshot. He specified that Secret Service agents would only be targeted if necessary, while hotel security, police, and National Guard would not be targeted unless they fired first. Hotel staff and other guests were explicitly excluded as targets. Allen also claimed his actions aligned with Christian values and criticized the hotel’s security as extremely inadequate.

When Allen rushed toward the dinner venue with weapons, security personnel immediately drew guns and subdued him. Allen’s brother, who received the manifesto and resides in Connecticut, reported it to local police prior to the incident.