The black-tie elegance of the Washington Hilton was shattered on Saturday evening when a festive gathering of the political and media elite turned into a scene of survival. As guests sat for the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD), the sounds of celebratory toasts were replaced by the sharp crack of gunfire.
President Donald Trump and the guests were immediately evacuated and they were all safe. Now, attention has turned to the suspect behind the WHCD shooting, who was later identified as Cole Allen, an anti‑Trump, anti‑Christian and Ukraine war advocate, according to posts attributed to him on social media.
Law enforcement officials have identified the gunman and taken him into custody. Investigators have also begun scrutinising his digital presence, including activity on the social media platform Bluesky. Before his account was deactivated, screenshots circulated online showing posts that expressed deep-seated animosity toward the current administration.
Right-wing commentators Benny Johnson and Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said Allen had maintained a social media presence on the left‑leaning platform, where he had been open about his stance against Trump. 'In one post he calls President Trump the Antichrist,' Kolvet wrote onX(formerly Twitter). 'In one post he calls Trump a sociopathic mob boss and in another referred to him as a traitor with known connections to Putin, repeating a favorite leftwing Russian Hoax talking point.'
Kolvet also claimed Allen encouraged buying guns as Trump sought to ban firearms, and that he attackedVP JD Vancefor advocating an end to war funding for Ukraine and for criticising Pope Leo XIV. Johnson, citing the same deleted profile,concludedthat the suspected gunman was 'pro‑trans, anti‑Trump, anti‑Christian' and a 'Ukraine war advocate.'
Cole Allen, the gunman from last night’s WH Correspondents Dinner, maintained an active online presence, especially on the leftwing social media platform Bluesky where he went by the handlehttps://t.co/bpKnhC8M5awith multiple references violence and guns.In one post he calls…pic.twitter.com/mvFBE0FAl7
We now have Bluesky posts from the now-deleted profile of the shooter who tried to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.Cole Allen is:-Pro Trans-Anti-Trump-Anti Christian-Ukraine War AdvocateAnyone telling you otherwise is lyingPROOF:pic.twitter.com/NhwdtPYBzh
Allen's background appears to contrast sharply with the violence of the evening. The 31‑year‑old has maintained a career as a part‑time teacher and an independent game developer, according to a LinkedIn profile believed to belong to him.
Initial reports from investigators indicate that Allen had no significant criminal history before the incident at the Hilton. Colleagues in education have expressed shock, describing him as a relatively quiet individual who was deeply involved in the digital arts.
Allen earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena in 2017. He later completed a master's degree in computer science from California State University‑Dominguez Hills.
Source: International Business Times UK
