When the giants of politics and media gathered under one roof in the bustling atmosphere of the Washington Hilton, an incident occurred that shook the entire nation.
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, was at the center of the plot. Allen was no ordinary criminal, he was a Caltech graduate in mechanical engineering and held a master’s degree in computer science from Cal State, according to CBS News.
Allen was affiliated with “The Wide Awakes” group and had participated in “No Kings” protests. According to The Guardian, he wrote a 1,100-word manifesto titled “Apology and Explanation”, in which he labeled President Trump a “pedophile,” “rapist,” and “traitor,” declaring his intent to target Trump and his administration officials.
To execute his plan, Allen traveled a long distance. On April 21, he boarded a train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and from there reached Washington, D.C. on April 24. He booked a room at the Washington Hilton, the venue of the dinner. With him, he carried deadly weapons: a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38 caliber pistol, and several knives - legally purchased in California between 2023 and 2025, according to Justice.gov.
On the night of April 25, while mentalist Oz Pearlman was performing for the President and First Lady in the ballroom, Allen struck at 8:40 PM. He stormed the Terrace Level security checkpoint, using interior stairways to avoid detection.
As he rushed through the metal detector, Allen sprinted forward. In Trump’s words, he appeared “like a blur” on the footage. Covering 45–50 yards at lightning speed, he momentarily stunned security. In the chaos, a bullet struck Secret Service Officer V.G. in the chest, but his bulletproof vest saved his life. Security quickly subdued and arrested Allen.
Inside the ballroom, the gunshot was first mistaken for a tray of dishes falling. Soon, Secret Service agents shouted, “Get down!” Trump recalled that curiosity kept him standing, but agents forced him and Melania Trump to the floor.
The scene was chaotic, agents leapt over tables and chairs to protect Cabinet officials. High-profile figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also had to take cover on the ground.
“The NFL should sign him up,” Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes
The next evening, in an interview with Norah O’Donnell, Trump analyzed the shooter’s speed like a sports scout.
“The NFL should sign him up. He was fast,” Trump said, calling Allen’s sprint “incredible.”
“His speed was rather incredible, actually. It was-- he was like a blur,” President Donald Trump says of the gunman at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 26, 2026
“I think the NFL should sign him up. He was fast. When you look at it on tape, it's almost like a blur,” the president… pic.twitter.com/f7cN37K5kY
Tension rose when O’Donnell read excerpts from the manifesto where Allen had called Trump a “pedophile” and “rapist.” Trump lashed out, branding the media “horrible people” and calling O’Donnell a “disgrace.”
“Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would… you’re horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.”
“You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace. But go ahead. Let’s finish the interview.”
Reportedly, Allen now faces serious federal charges:
- Attempt to assassinate the President
- Firearm discharge during a crime of violence
- Interstate transportation of firearms with criminal intent
The incident has raised questions about security at the Washington Hilton. Trump even announced plans to build a “safe ballroom” on White House grounds by 2028, eliminating the need to attend events at potentially vulnerable venues.