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More details have emerged.
15:29, Wed, May 6, 2026 Updated: 16:02, Wed, May 6, 2026
Trump (Image: Getty)
The motive behind Donald Trump's alleged would-be assassin's attempts to 'shoot the President' was linked to the war in Iran, it has been claimed. A bombshell intelligence report from the US Department of Homeland Security has revealed the ongoing conflict with Iran “may have contributed” to suspect Cole Tomas Allen’s alleged decision to launch the terrifying attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Allen, 31, is accused of storming past Secret Service officers at the Washington Hilton on April 25 while armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives before gunfire erupted outside the ballroom where Trump and senior administration officials were gathered. Four shots rang out during the chaos as guests dived under tables and armed agents rushed the President to safety. Federal prosecutors allege Allen attempted to assassinate Trump and senior members of his administration after travelling across the country armed with weapons and ammunition. The suspect has now been charged with attempted assassination of the President, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm during a violent crime and illegally transporting firearms across state lines.
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31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen from Torrance, California (Image: ABC News)
According to prosecutors, Allen fired directly at a Secret Service agent guarding the security checkpoint. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said evidence showed a shotgun pellet struck the officer’s bulletproof vest during the attack.
Investigators are also examining a chilling 1,000-word manifesto allegedly written by Allen shortly before the shooting.
The document reportedly expressed extreme hatred towards Trump and outlined plans to kill the President and members of his Cabinet.
The manifesto allegedly stated FBI Director Kash Patel should be spared, along with guests and police officers, so long as they did not interfere with Allen’s plans.
Court filings state Allen “disagreed” with Trump’s politics and “wanted to fight back against government policies and decisions that he found morally objectionable”.
The FBI is now reviewing Allen’s online activity, including posts on liberal-leaning social media platform Bluesky, where he allegedly shared anti-Trump rhetoric in the weeks leading up to the attack.
FBI officers leave the scene after responding to an address connected to Cole Tomas Allen (Image: AP)
Posts linked to the suspect criticised the Trump administration, Elon Musk and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
After Trump reportedly called for the destruction of Iranian civilisation earlier this year, Allen allegedly reposted calls demanding the President be impeached.
Posts linked to the suspect criticised the Trump administration, Elon Musk and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
After Trump reportedly called for the destruction of Iranian civilisation earlier this year, Allen allegedly reposted calls demanding the President be impeached. In another alleged post from 2024, Allen referred to Trump as “the devil”.
The case took another extraordinary twist earlier this week when federal judge Zia Faruqui apologised to Allen in court over the conditions of his imprisonment.
Allen has reportedly been held under strict suicide watch restrictions since entering federal custody following the attack.
This courtroom sketch depicts Cole Tomas Allen, second from right, listening as his attorney Eugene (Image: AP)
Judge Faruqui criticised prison officials after hearing claims Allen had been placed in five-point restraints despite having no previous criminal history.
He told the courtroom: “At a minimum, I should be apologising to him. We are obligated to make sure he’s taken care of. Mr Allen, I’m sorry that things have not been the way they are supposed to.”
The judge added: “To me, it’s extremely disturbing that he was put in five-point restraints, a person with no criminal history.
“It’s troubling. I never heard of one Jan. 6 defendant who was put in five-point restraints or in a safe cell. If the only way to keep him safe is the most punitive thing, that’s a problem.”
Judge Faruqui has now ordered officials at the DC jail to provide updates on Allen’s prison conditions as his lawyers seek to have him removed from suicide watch restrictions.
English (US) · 