An unsealed FBI affidavit provides new insights into Cole Tomas Allen's plot to target President Trump and officials at the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner, including his travel and a threatening email to family. Rep. Jasmine Crockett questioned the frequency of attempts on Trump's life amid the incident.
Following the April 26 shooting at the Washington Hilton's security checkpoint—where Secret Service agents subdued suspect Cole Tomas Allen armed with a pump-action shotgun, prompting evacuations—the FBI affidavit unsealed Monday reveals further planning details.
Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, booked a room at the hotel on April 6 and traveled by train from the Los Angeles area starting April 21. He emailed family: "I will no longer allow 'a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.'" It listed "Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest."
Allen had posted on social media comparing Trump to Hitler and calling the July 2024 Butler rally shooting (which wounded Trump and killed a supporter) and a later Florida golf course attempt hoaxes.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) posted on her personal Threads page: "Back to the shooting… has there ever been a president have this many close ‘attempts’ on their life? Maybe it’s lax gun laws, maybe it’s lack of mental health funding, or maybe it’s fake… who knows." On her official X account, she condemned the violence: "The political violence is unacceptable and must stop. I am grateful that everyone attending tonight’s WHCD is safe."
