“The guy is a sick guy,” said President Trump after a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The incident raised serious concerns about his security amid multiple assassination attempts.
The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, fired shots near the ballroom where the event was held. Secret Service agents quickly subdued him. One officer was shot but fortunately was protected by a bulletproof vest and is recovering.
Authorities have not publicly characterized the incident as an assassination attempt against Trump. But officials believe Allen set out to target members of the Trump administration.
According to Trump, the suspect had written an anti-Christian declaration. He also stated that Allen purchased the firearms he carried in recent years.
Trump and Melania Trump were evacuated from the dinner following the security scare. This incident marks the third attempt on Trump’s life in less than two years.
The event has revived questions about presidential safety in light of increasing political violence in the U.S. “If you were there [as a hotel guest] and you had bad intentions about breaking into this dinner, there’s just one security thing you had to get past… and then you’re in the ballroom,” said an unnamed source.
Trump advocates for building a large ballroom next to the White House as a security measure. He emphasized that such facilities are necessary for protecting officials during high-profile events.
The suspect is not cooperating with law enforcement and is expected to face multiple charges. A timeline for those charges has not been disclosed.
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