Day: April 27, 2026

The preliminary hearing has started for the individual charged with attempting to assault senior administration officials during Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The 31-year-old individual, Cole Tomas Allen, faces accusations of breaching Secret Service security while armed with a shotgun, pistol, and knives during Saturday’s dinner. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several important cabinet officials were dining on another floor of the Washington Hilton.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced over the weekend that Allen would be charged with two offenses, one of which includes assaulting a federal officer with a lethal weapon. A federal officer was struck in a protective vest during the gunfire exchange on Saturday night and has since been discharged from the hospital.

Officials stated that Allen took a train from California to DC, where he served as a part-time tutor.

In a document that investigators claim Allen sent to his relatives on Saturday, he expressed frustration towards the administration, mocked the Secret Service for poor security at the hotel, and stated he did not “anticipate forgiveness.”

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, responds to inquiries at the press briefing on Monday. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The White House did not eliminate the possibility of altering Donald Trump’s timetable after Saturday’s shooting at a gala in Washington, which might involve making sure the president and Vice President JD Vance do not attend events at the same time.

“I certainly wouldn’t claim that changes are impossible,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters when questioned about potential protocol modifications for events held outside the White House.

“We consider it a significant duty to guarantee the utmost safety of the president, the vice president, and the whole Cabinet,” she stated. “We continuously seek methods to enhance security.”

She stated that Trump felt content with the security measures taken Saturday night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, yet reevaluating protocols remained a wise move.

She mentioned that if the dinner is moved, as Trump has asked, there would be a discussion about Vance’s attendance.

“I can guarantee that the president plans to be at the event, as he has communicated to all of you openly.” “I’m not looking to confirm or deny the vice president’s presence, but undoubtedly, that discussion will occur,” she stated.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, it was unnecessary to choose a designated survivor for the evening of the White House Correspondents’ dinner since multiple Cabinet members were absent.

Leavitt noted that discussions prior to the dinner focused on appointing a specific survivor, “but several Cabinet members in the succession line were absent for different personal reasons.”

She stated, “Therefore, appointing a single survivor was unnecessary, since we had multiple members who were absent already.”

On Monday, reporters engage with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Alex Brandon/AP

The White House called on congressional Democrats to allocate funds for the Department of Homeland Security following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“The Democrats’ hindrance is imposing a huge and completely unnecessary strain on the Secret Service, potentially leading to more fatalities.” Sufficient is sufficient. “Enough discussions on this matter,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated to reporters Monday in the White House briefing room.

“Democrats must follow President Trump’s call for funding the Department of Homeland Security, which he has made for 73 consecutive days.” “This is a national crisis, and all members of Congress must prioritize their country over their party and ensure funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” Leavitt stated.

She referred to the expired funding as a “national disgrace” that warrants greater focus.

“If Republicans cut funding for DHS, and there was another attempted assassination on a Democrat president, I would expect the media coverage to be unyielding and severe, and I wish that it remains that way with the World Cup, America 250, the 2028 Olympics, and an upcoming presidential election,” she stated.

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that security protocols for major events need reassessment after Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, claiming the shooting highlighted the necessity of a White House ballroom.

“Secret Service performed excellently; brave individuals present.” “Clearly, we have to consider security precautions,” Johnson said to reporters on Monday upon arriving at the US Capitol.

He emphasized the significance of the event: “The president, the vice president, and the speaker of the House were present, which are the first three in the line of succession … at least half the Cabinet was also there.”

Johnson stated that Saturday night’s episode illustrated why President Donald Trump ought to build a White House ballroom, reflecting the arguments presented by the administration.

“This is the reason we require the ballroom.” It truly is. The president is correct about that. “We require a venue that is sufficiently secure to hold events of this nature without significant national security issues,” the Louisiana Republican stated.

DHS funding: In the wake of the shooting, pressures are increasing on Capitol Hill for Congress to finally approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which has been non-operational since mid-February.

Earlier this month, the Senate passed a bill to fund the department, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, but House Republican leaders have not brought it to the floor for a vote.

The speaker was vague when questioned by Xenix News’ Lauren Fox about when he would present DHS funding for a vote. However, he stated that the issue was “urgent.”

On his April 23 show, Jimmy Kimmel participated in a parody of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Randy Holmes/Disney

First lady Melania Trump suggested that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel ought to be fired due to a parody of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner featured on his show last week.

In the skit, Kimmel shared a variety of jokes, including one remarking that the first lady had “a radiance like an awaiting widow.”

Kimmel joked on Thursday during “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” just days before the suspected gunman tried to access the event where President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and other high-ranking officials were evacuated.

The first lady described Kimmel as “a coward” and stated: “Enough is enough.” “It is time for ABC to make a decision.”

Here are some of the newest updates following the shooting that occurred this past weekend:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated it was “rapidly evaluated” that “the continuity of government” was ensured after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.

Authorities are looking into a message dispatched by the alleged shooter to relatives, in which he reportedly referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” stating his aim was to attack officials from the Trump administration.

Attorneys representing the historic preservation organization that is suing Trump regarding his proposal to construct a large new White House ballroom informed the Justice Department yesterday that it was “incorrect and irresponsible” for a high-ranking official to imply that the lawsuit endangers the president’s life.

The state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla to the US will proceed as scheduled. The British king is anticipated to speak to Congress and hold a private meeting with Trump.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro intend to hold a press conference following the court appearance of the suspected gunman from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The event will take place at 3 p.m. ET.

The suspected shooter, named Cole Allen, is set to face a DC federal court for the first time this afternoon.

He is anticipated to be brought to court on allegations that consist of utilizing a weapon in a violent offense. The investigation is ongoing and the charges have not been disclosed yet.

By Kristen Holmes, Casey Tolan, Alayna Treene, John Miller, Holmes Lybrand, and Kyung Lah

Officials are examining a communication sent by the alleged shooter connected to Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, attempting to comprehend what supposedly drove him from being a well-regarded California educator to an attempted murderer.

“Please allow me to begin by expressing my apologies to all those whose trust I misused,” states a message that officials claim was transmitted by the accused, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California, who worked as a part-time educator and also created video games, as per public documents.

In the message Allen reportedly sent to relatives prior to the assault, he referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” expressed plans to target Trump administration officials, and shared his political frustration, stating, “I don’t expect forgiveness.”

Investigators are examining the statement that Allen purportedly sent along with his social media history — which President Donald Trump referred to as “anti-Christian” — interviewing family members and trying to understand what motivated him to allegedly execute the violent assault.

The note detailed various complaints in general terms that might indicate a motive to the authorities, including frustration over detention camp conditions and seeming to label Trump as a “traitor.”

Allen often made extreme remarks as he engaged in leftist activism in Los Angeles, obtained firearms, and started practicing regularly at a shooting range, his sister informed authorities, as reported by the White House.

On April 1, a crane is visible over the construction area of President Trump’s White House ballroom. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Attorneys for the historic preservation organization that is suing President Donald Trump regarding his intentions to construct a large new ballroom at the White House informed the Justice Department yesterday that it was “wrong and reckless” for a senior official to imply that the lawsuit threatens the president’s safety.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which denied a request from the department to dismiss the case due to the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, informed the department in a letter that assertions made earlier Sunday regarding the possible effects of the lawsuit were baseless.

The group highlighted that the case did not center on the need for a new ballroom but instead on whether Trump could move forward without congressional consent. A federal judge sided with the group last month and mandated a halt to construction, but an appeals court has put that ruling on hold.

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate insisted the trust abandon its “foolish lawsuit that serves no real purpose,” contending that the ballroom would allow presidents to avoid traveling outside the White House for large events like the one at the Washington Hilton on Saturday.

Observers have noted that the dinner for correspondents is a private gathering and that a new ballroom would not alter this fact.

Shumate stated that if the group did not consent to terminate the litigation, the department would request a federal court to dismiss the case, although that request has not occurred yet.