White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting: Authorities Confirm Gunman Targeted Trump and Officials
Following a shooting outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner, authorities confirmed that the assailant's target was President Trump and his government officials, based on a roughly 1,000-word document. This incident once again brings Trump's security under scrutiny.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 14:47
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 15:01 (14 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 16:53 (1h 51m after Collected)
Central News Agency, Washington, 26th — Integrated foreign reports: According to a roughly 1,000-word document obtained by authorities, the assailant subdued after opening fire outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner on the evening of the 25th had targeted President Trump and his government officials. This incident once again brings Trump's security under public scrutiny.
The New York Times, citing law enforcement officials, stated that according to a handwritten note believed to be written by the assailant, the suspect referred to government officials as his "targets, prioritized by rank."
The approximately 1,000-word document released by authorities did not directly name Trump, but its contents indicated the assailant's hostility towards the current administration and Trump himself. According to the document, the assailant claimed he could no longer tolerate "traitors imposing their sins upon me."
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that in 1981, then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan was also shot and wounded at the same hotel. It was shocking that a gunman could easily rush towards the banquet hall of the President, cabinet members, and White House reporters' dinner again.
Cole Allen, a 31-year-old man with a gun, rushed towards the banquet hall of the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner while Trump was dining there.
Officials stated that the gunman appeared to be acting alone and carried a shotgun, a pistol, and several knives. Allen was a guest at the hotel where the dinner was held. In the documents obtained by authorities, Allen listed what he perceived as security vulnerabilities, stating that bringing guns into the building was much easier than expected.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that Allen has been taken into custody and faces charges including assaulting federal officials and firing a weapon.
The Washington Hilton Hotel, located about 2.4 kilometers north of the White House, has been the venue for the White House Correspondents' Dinner for years due to its capacity to accommodate large crowds and the Secret Service's familiarity with its security. More than 2,500 people attended the event, including five of the top six officials in the presidential line of succession. Hundreds more attended parties hosted by media organizations at the venue before the dinner.
Despite clear security perimeters and organizers' warnings of strict security checks, attendees revealed that they could pass through checkpoints on the streets around the hotel and enter the hotel simply by showing copies of their dinner invitation or invitations to pre-dinner receptions. Attendees said staff only checked invitations without scanning or verifying identity.
Guests could enter the Hilton Hotel's lobby and basement without security scans; metal detectors were only required before entering the banquet hall where the dinner was held. The Wall Street Journal described entering that day's dinner as even easier than entering many large sporting events and concerts.
The Washington Hilton Hotel has 1107 guest rooms and suites, 47 meeting rooms, and 4 restaurants, and its location in the core downtown area of Washington makes it impossible to fully enclose and control for high-level security events.
Law enforcement officials stated that one of the rooms was booked by Allen, who checked in the day before, giving him a deeper understanding of the hotel's layout.
Former FBI official Jason Pack said, "He didn't breach security on the night of the dinner; he breached it when he booked the room. The security perimeter was set up to stop a large crowd, but he broke through with just a room key."
Law enforcement officials stated that Allen, from California, first traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then to Washington D.C. Text obtained by the Wall Street Journal shows Allen bringing multiple weapons into the hotel and writing, "No one there thought I might be a threat."
Law enforcement officials stated that shortly before the incident on the evening of the 25th, Allen sent a statement to relatives, writing, "What exactly does the Secret Service eat? I thought there would be cameras around every corner, bugging in hotel rooms, armed Secret Service every three meters, and metal detectors everywhere. But there was nothing (who knows, maybe they're messing with me)."
He also wrote, "The event's security was all outside, focusing on protesters and new arrivals. Apparently, no one thought about what would happen if someone checked in the day before."
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that investigators found a loaded 10-round magazine, two knives, a laptop, a hard drive, a metro receipt, and a face mask in Allen's room.
This incident will inevitably prompt the Secret Service to re-examine its security preparations for this decades-old traditional event. Following Trump's previous assassination attempts in Butler, Pennsylvania, and a Florida golf course, it once again highlights how difficult it has become to hold large political events and minimize security risks for associated personnel amidst the rising threat environment in contemporary American society. (Compiler: Chen Yi-Wei) 1150427
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The New York Times, citing law enforcement officials, stated that according to a handwritten note believed to be written by the assailant, the suspect referred to government officials as his "targets, prioritized by rank."
The approximately 1,000-word document released by authorities did not directly name Trump, but its contents indicated the assailant's hostility towards the current administration and Trump himself. According to the document, the assailant claimed he could no longer tolerate "traitors imposing their sins upon me."
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that in 1981, then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan was also shot and wounded at the same hotel. It was shocking that a gunman could easily rush towards the banquet hall of the President, cabinet members, and White House reporters' dinner again.
Cole Allen, a 31-year-old man with a gun, rushed towards the banquet hall of the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner while Trump was dining there.
Officials stated that the gunman appeared to be acting alone and carried a shotgun, a pistol, and several knives. Allen was a guest at the hotel where the dinner was held. In the documents obtained by authorities, Allen listed what he perceived as security vulnerabilities, stating that bringing guns into the building was much easier than expected.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that Allen has been taken into custody and faces charges including assaulting federal officials and firing a weapon.
The Washington Hilton Hotel, located about 2.4 kilometers north of the White House, has been the venue for the White House Correspondents' Dinner for years due to its capacity to accommodate large crowds and the Secret Service's familiarity with its security. More than 2,500 people attended the event, including five of the top six officials in the presidential line of succession. Hundreds more attended parties hosted by media organizations at the venue before the dinner.
Despite clear security perimeters and organizers' warnings of strict security checks, attendees revealed that they could pass through checkpoints on the streets around the hotel and enter the hotel simply by showing copies of their dinner invitation or invitations to pre-dinner receptions. Attendees said staff only checked invitations without scanning or verifying identity.
Guests could enter the Hilton Hotel's lobby and basement without security scans; metal detectors were only required before entering the banquet hall where the dinner was held. The Wall Street Journal described entering that day's dinner as even easier than entering many large sporting events and concerts.
The Washington Hilton Hotel has 1107 guest rooms and suites, 47 meeting rooms, and 4 restaurants, and its location in the core downtown area of Washington makes it impossible to fully enclose and control for high-level security events.
Law enforcement officials stated that one of the rooms was booked by Allen, who checked in the day before, giving him a deeper understanding of the hotel's layout.
Former FBI official Jason Pack said, "He didn't breach security on the night of the dinner; he breached it when he booked the room. The security perimeter was set up to stop a large crowd, but he broke through with just a room key."
Law enforcement officials stated that Allen, from California, first traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then to Washington D.C. Text obtained by the Wall Street Journal shows Allen bringing multiple weapons into the hotel and writing, "No one there thought I might be a threat."
Law enforcement officials stated that shortly before the incident on the evening of the 25th, Allen sent a statement to relatives, writing, "What exactly does the Secret Service eat? I thought there would be cameras around every corner, bugging in hotel rooms, armed Secret Service every three meters, and metal detectors everywhere. But there was nothing (who knows, maybe they're messing with me)."
He also wrote, "The event's security was all outside, focusing on protesters and new arrivals. Apparently, no one thought about what would happen if someone checked in the day before."
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that investigators found a loaded 10-round magazine, two knives, a laptop, a hard drive, a metro receipt, and a face mask in Allen's room.
This incident will inevitably prompt the Secret Service to re-examine its security preparations for this decades-old traditional event. Following Trump's previous assassination attempts in Butler, Pennsylvania, and a Florida golf course, it once again highlights how difficult it has become to hold large political events and minimize security risks for associated personnel amidst the rising threat environment in contemporary American society. (Compiler: Chen Yi-Wei) 1150427
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
Texts, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.