Man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump

The man accused of opening fire at a Washington dinner attended by Donald Trump has been charged with attempting to assassinate the US president.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, could face a potential life sentence if convicted.

Mr Allen wore a blue jail-issue V-neck shirt and pants at his first appearance in Washington federal court, two days after authorities said they foiled an attack at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, an annual black-tie gathering of journalists and politicians.

Mr Allen's hands were cuffed behind his back as US Marshals led him into and out of the courtroom.

At the hearing, prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine said the weapons Mr Allen brought to Washington included a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and three knives.

"He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J.

Trump," Ms Ballantine said.

Mr Allen also faces charges of illegally transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, US Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh said at a court hearing.

Mr Allen did not respond to the allegations at the brief hearing.

He said he had a master's degree in computer science.

Defence lawyer Tezira Abe said at the hearing that Mr Allen had no prior arrests or convictions.

Mr Sharbaugh ordered Mr Allen to be held in custody until at least Thursday, when he scheduled a separate court hearing to consider prosecutors' request that he be detained pending trial.

The incident was another reminder of a rising tide of political violence in the United States in recent years.

"Violence has no place in civil life," acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters after the hearing.

"It cannot and will not be used to disrupt democratic institutions, and it certainly cannot continue to be used against the president of the United States."
Mr Trump faced two previous attempts on his life during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, told reporters that additional charges would be brought against Mr Allen.

Mr Allen left a manifesto with family members referring to himself as the "Friendly Federal Assassin" and discussing plans to ‌target senior Trump administration officials, who were present ⁠in the hotel ballroom.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the Saturday night attack as the third major assassination attempt against Mr Trump, after two attempts on his life in 2024.

She compared the rhetoric in the manifesto to criticism of Mr Trump by his political opponents.

"Much of the manifesto of the would-be assassin is indistinguishable from the words that we hear daily from so many," Ms Leavitt said.

"The entire Democrat ‌Party has made their pitch to voters across the country that Donald Trump poses an existential threat to democracy, that he is a fascist."
Prominent elected Democrats have condemned the shooting.

Mr Allen booked a room ⁠at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner took place, and travelled from California to Washington by train, officials said.

The shooting ‌on Saturday rattled the press dinner, a prominent event on Washington's social calendar, sending attendees scrambling under tables ⁠and prompting law enforcement ‌to whisk senior officials out of the room.

Mr Trump and senior members of his administration, including Vice President JD Vance, along with hundreds of people from the political and media world were at the event.

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Watch: Moment Trump rushed from stage after shooting at event
The suspect allegedly fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint inside the hotel before being tackled and arrested, ⁠according to authorities.

Video footage Mr Trump posted online showed the suspect sprinting through a hallway outside the ballroom.

US officials have said the suspect was ⁠subdued just inside a security perimeter and have touted his takedown as a law enforcement success.

But the incident has revived concerns about the safety of Mr Trump, who survived two assassination attempts during his 2024 presidential campaign, and other US officials.

The Secret Service agent was struck, but a tactical vest stopped the shot, and the agent was released from a hospital hours later.

Mr Allen, who authorities said was armed with a handgun and multiple knives, in addition to the shotgun, was also taken to a local hospital to be evaluated following the ‌shooting.

Read more: Gunshots at Trump-attended event shake US again Taoiseach condemns 'shocking' assassination attempt
"The guy is a sick guy," Mr Trump told Fox News yesterday.

"When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians."
"His sister or his brother actually was complaining about it.

You know, they were even complaining to law enforcement.

He was a very troubled guy."
White House to review Trump's security
The White House is reviewing security protocols this week following the shooting during the correspondents' association dinner, the administration said.

"We're always looking for ways to improve security," Ms Leavitt said.

"I think if you just sit here and say everything is perfect all the time, that's not a good way to operate."
Ms Leavitt also said officials will discuss whether the president and vice president should attend the same events, adding that conversations about the line of presidential succession took place before the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday.

While the event drew Vice President JD Vance, cabinet members and top congressional leaders such as US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Ms Leavitt said officials determined that a "designated survivor" was not necessary because several cabinet officials did not attend.

Ms Leavitt said Mr Trump is standing by the Secret Service leadership following the shooting outside the Washington Hilton ballroom where the dinner was being held.

Additional reporting: AFP/Reuters