Mazaj News (Web Desk) US President Donald Trump said the man accused of attempting to target administration officials at a black-tie gala on Saturday night was a “very disturbed individual” who had previously been flagged to law enforcement by his family.
In TV interviews on Sunday, Trump said the suspect—identified by an official as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California—had allegedly written what he described as an “anti-Christian” manifesto.
“He was a Christian believer, and then he turned anti-Christian and went through a lot of changes,” Trump told CBS’ 60 Minutes. “He was probably a pretty disturbed guy.”
According to a law enforcement official cited by Reuters, the manifesto described Allen as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and outlined plans to target Trump administration officials, ranking them from highest to lowest priority while excluding FBI Director Kash Patel. The document reportedly referenced Christian theology and claimed the attack was intended as a form of protection against harm caused by government policies.
The manifesto stated that responding to oppression with restraint is not true Christian behavior but complicity, the official added. It was reportedly sent to Allen’s family shortly before the incident and also criticized security at the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner took place. Allen was arrested at the scene.
The author also reportedly noted the lack of security at the venue, claiming he was able to enter with weapons without being identified as a threat.
The incident has renewed concerns about the protection of senior US officials gathered at the event. Trump used the situation to again advocate for his proposed White House ballroom, calling it a safer alternative.
He wrote on Truth Social that such an incident would not occur once the “high-security ballroom” currently under construction is completed.
Authorities said Allen traveled by Amtrak from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, checking into the Hilton on Friday. Officials believe Trump and senior administration members were primary targets. Amtrak confirmed it is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.