A man accused of attempting to breach security at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner — an event attended by President Trump and other senior administration officials — is due to make his first appearance in federal court.
Authorities and news outlets identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen, though police have not formally named him; NPR confirmed his identity with two people familiar with the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Allen faces federal counts that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
Law enforcement says the suspect ran through a security perimeter at the Washington Hilton near the ballroom where the annual dinner was being held before being stopped and arrested. One Secret Service agent was hit in his protective vest and sustained no serious injuries. Video from the scene showed Secret Service agents quickly surrounding the president and Vice President Vance and moving them out of the room as reporters and guests ducked under tables and federal officers swarmed the ballroom.
Speaking at a White House press event after the incident, President Trump acknowledged the inherent dangers of his job, saying he prefers not to dwell on them and that he tries to handle the risks as best he can. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC’s Meet the Press that investigators believe the suspect was targeting administration officials.
What happened
According to officials, the incident occurred just after the dinner began, around 8 p.m. ET, when the suspect allegedly charged a security barrier inside the Washington Hilton near the ballroom entrance. President Trump posted a video on social media that appears to show a man sprinting through a checkpoint as agents turn and point weapons; people inside the ballroom reported hearing muffled pops.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the episode demonstrated that the agency’s layered protections worked, noting the individual who attempted to breach the checkpoint was apprehended. The Metropolitan Police Department said the suspect appeared to have acted alone and that officers recovered two firearms and multiple knives at the scene.
Event organizers initially said the president wanted the dinner to continue, but he later departed at law enforcement’s request; the White House Correspondents’ Association announced the event would be rescheduled. WHCA president and CBS journalist Weijia Jiang described the shooting as a “harrowing moment” and said the board would meet to review the incident and determine next steps.
Who is Cole Allen?
Officials said Allen allegedly sent family members what the White House characterized as a manifesto expressing his desire to target members of the Trump administration. A White House official told NPR that Allen’s sister told investigators her brother often made radical remarks and had hinted he planned to do “something” to try to fix the world’s problems. She also told law enforcement that Allen purchased two handguns and a shotgun and kept them at his parents’ home without their knowledge.
Details about Allen emerged in the hours after the attack. A LinkedIn profile that appears to be his describes him as “mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.” The profile lists part-time work as a teacher at C2 Education; the company named him its teacher of the month in December 2024. A 17-year-old former student called him “quirky” and “really smart,” but said they would not have expected him to plan an attack.
Movses Janbazian, pastor at Pasadena United Reformed Church, said Allen attended services years ago while a student at the California Institute of Technology and remembered him as a polite, quiet young man who did not take an active role in church activities.
Federal Election Commission records show a $25 donation from Allen to the ActBlue fundraising platform in October 2024, designated for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
Investigators continue to gather evidence and officials have said more information will be released as the case proceeds through federal court.