A man has entered a not guilty plea after being accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump during the White House correspondents’ dinner. Cole Allen faces charges of trying to assassinate the president, attacking a federal officer with a deadly weapon, and two additional firearms charges related to the incident that occurred on April 25.
The accused allegedly ran through a security checkpoint and discharged a shotgun at a Secret Service officer, causing commotion at the upscale event. President Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump and other officials, were swiftly evacuated to safety upon hearing gunshots outside the Washington Hilton ballroom, where around 2,500 guests, mostly journalists, sought shelter under tables.
During the court appearance, Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, remained silent as his lawyer entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf. Reports from a previous hearing indicated that the shots fired by the alleged gunman missed the Secret Service agent, who retaliated by firing five shots back.
Further investigation revealed that one of the bullets hit the agent’s Kevlar vest, possibly fired by a colleague. Upon Allen’s arrest, knives and a pistol were discovered in his possession. Allen, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, could face a life sentence if convicted.
This incident marks the third known attempt on Donald Trump’s life, with past incidents including a bullet grazing his ear during a speech in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, and a man’s attempt to attack the president at a Florida golf course in September 2024. The closest call occurred on July 13, 2024, when Thomas Matthew Crooks fired multiple shots at Trump during a rally, narrowly missing the president but tragically killing another attendee.
Following these events, a Senate report criticized the Secret Service for lapses in planning, communication, and leadership that allowed gunmen to breach security perimeters. Subsequently, in September 2024, another individual was apprehended with a rifle at Trump’s International Golf Club in Florida but was thwarted by vigilant Secret Service agents before any harm could be done.
