A California man was formally charged on Tuesday with the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a high-profile dinner in Washington, D.C. The incident took place at an event attended by both journalists and politicians, raising serious security concerns.

Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California, appeared in a Washington federal court dressed in standard jail attire, marking his first court appearance since his arrest. If found guilty, Allen faces the possibility of a life sentence.

The attempted attack was said to have occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, known for its black-tie elegance and high-profile attendees. However, authorities successfully intervened, preventing any harm.

Allen was seen with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was escorted in and out of the courtroom by U.S. marshals. The gravity of the situation was underscored by the prosecutor, Jocelyn Ballantine, who revealed the arsenal Allen allegedly brought with him. This included a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and three knives.

“He attempted to assassinate the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump,” Ballantine asserted during the hearing, emphasizing the serious nature of the charges against Allen.

“He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J Trump,” Ballantine said.

Uptick in political violence

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.

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 Allen had no prior arrests or convictions.

Sharbaugh ordered Allen 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. Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a rally last September, months after the June 2025 slaying of Democratic Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband.

“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.”

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 Allen.

‘Friendly Federal Assassin’

Allen booked a room at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner took place, on 6 April and travelled from California to Washington by train last week, according to an affidavit filed by an FBI agent in court.

According to the affidavit, Allen sent an email to family members on Saturday referring to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and discussing plans to target senior Trump administration officials.

The shooting on Sunday rattled the press dinner, a prominent event on Washington’s social calendar, sending attendees diving under tables and prompting law enforcement to whisk senior officials out of the room. Trump, who was set to deliver remarks later in the evening, was rushed off the stage by security personnel after shots were fired.

US officials have touted his takedown as a law enforcement success. But the incident has revived concerns about the safety of Trump and other US officials.

Allen ran through a magnetometer at a security checkpoint at the hotel while holding a long gun, according to the affidavit. A US Secret Service officer fired at Allen, who fell to the ground but was not shot, the affidavit read.

The affidavit said the Secret Service officer was shot in the chest while wearing a ballistic vest, but did not specify by whom.

Allen, who, according to the affidavit, was armed with a shotgun and a pistol, was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated for minor injuries following the shooting.

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