The incident
On Saturday evening a gunman intent on killing President Trump and cabinet members was arrested by United States Secret Service (USSS) agents after he rushed a security checkpoint and shot an agent in Washington DC. The attempt marks the third attempt by gunman to assassinate President Trump since his campaign tour in 2024. The previous attempts were in July 2024 in Butler, Pa. and in September 2024 in West Palm Beach, Fl.
The incident took place at the Washington Hilton where the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was being held. President Trump, the First Lady, Vice President Vance, and other members of the president’s cabinet had just arrived in the ballroom shortly before the incident took place.
The gunman, Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrence California, had travelled to DC by train prior to the event and transported a shotgun, a .380 semi auto handgun, and several knives that he carried and used in his failed attack. Allen checked into the Hilton hotel where he staged the attack from. Follow-up investigation revealed a manifesto that Allen had sent family members before the attack. In it, Allen laid out his twisted justification for the attack and listed his targets by order of importance. While details of the manifesto are available, they will not be shared here, as to do so only plays into the wishes of the assassin by giving the act more notoriety.
Layered security set up by the USSS thwarted Allen’s assassination attempt and prevented him from even entering the ballroom where the President or any other targets were seated. The agent that was shot is thankfully recovering after being hit in his ballistic vest by a .380 round. Allen was not injured during the arrest.
Mainstreaming violence on the left
Allen is just the latest “progressive” to turn violent in what appears to be an acceptable mainstream progressive response to issues they disagree with. Whether it be immigration enforcement, transgender issues, curbing fraud, intercepting narco-traffickers, or defending ourselves against the nuclear ambitions of a radical Iranian regime, far too many progressives have determined that stopping President Trump’s political agenda is justified by any means necessary.
And far too many prominent Democratic Party leaders and progressive “entertainers” have fueled the violence with near non-stop rhetoric calling President Trump a “threat” that needs to be stopped.
Just days before the assassination attempt US House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries repeated rhetoric that democrats have been using for years, saying the President “is an existential threat to the United States Constitution and every value we hold dear.” Jefferies followed that up by characterizing the nation being “in an era of maximum warfare. Everywhere, all the time.”
Two nights before the assassination attempt, ABC entertainer Jimmy Kimmel aired a mock monologue as if speaking to the attendees at the correspondent’s dinner. During the bit, Kimmel crudely referenced First Lady Melania Trump as “having the glow of an expectant widow.” Such is the state of leftist comedy.
A bit closer to home, a brewery in Wisconsin has been openly advertising “Free Beer Day” if President Trump is assassinated. The owner, Kirk Bangstad, is a progressive activist and former Democratic state Assembly candidate who also reportedly operates an anti-Republican Super PAC. After Saturday’s assassination attempt, Bangstad was heavily criticized for the irresponsible rhetoric. Rather that apologize Bangstad doubled down, saying:
“Well, we almost got #freebeerday. Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship, or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle. We’ll never know. Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens.”
The sickness on the left is real, yet so many seem oblivious to it.
Allen charged
Allen made his first appearance in federal district court in DC this afternoon. The US Attorney charged Allen by complaint with three felonies. They were 1) Using a firearm during a crime of violence; 2) Transportation of firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony; and 3) Attempt to assassinate the president of the United States.
Federal court rules mandate that an indictment from a grand jury be secured before trial. Expect additional charges related to the incident to come from that process.
Allen made no plea during the hearing and was remanded to the US Marshal for detention, pending further hearings. A detention hearing usually follows in a few days.
