The New York Post published the full 1,052-word manifesto of Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old California teacher and game developer arrested after the April 25, 2026, shooting attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC.
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Allen sent the anti-Trump manifesto to family minutes before the attack, signing as “Friendly Federal Assassin,” calling Trump a “pedophile, rapist, and traitor,” and outlining “rules of engagement” prioritizing administration officials while...
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expressing remorse for potential collateral harm to attendees.
He traveled by train from Torrance, CA, rushed a Secret Service checkpoint w/multiple weapons, exchanged gunfire injuring one agent, & was subdued; Trump was quickly removed from the stage amid chaos at the event.
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He traveled by train from Torrance, CA, rushed a Secret Service checkpoint w/multiple weapons, exchanged gunfire injuring one agent, & was subdued; Trump was quickly removed from the stage amid chaos at the event.
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Sadly, under current U.S. federal law, the death penalty is not automatically on the table here. Cole Tomas Allen (31, from Torrance, CA) has so far been charged with:
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Using a firearm during a crime of violence (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)) and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon
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Additional charges are expected, and he is set to be arraigned soon. No one was killed in the incident—one Secret Service agent was struck but protected by his vest and is reported to be okay.
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Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1751) allows the death penalty (or life imprisonment) specifically for the successful murder of the President, Vice President, or certain staff. For an attempt to kil! them, the maximum is generally life in prison without parole, not execution.
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The death penalty at the federal level is reserved for capital offenses like first-degree murder, treason, espionage, or certain terrorism-related killings that result in death.
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Since this was an attempted attack with no fatalities, prosecutors would need to pursue charges that specifically qualify for capital punishment, which is rare and requires aggravating factors plus approval through the Department of Justice process.
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So far, it is believed he was a lone wolf actor according to President Trump.
Allen appears to be a Caltech-educated tutor and amateur game developer who sent his manifesto to family right before the attack, signing it as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and
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Allen appears to be a Caltech-educated tutor and amateur game developer who sent his manifesto to family right before the attack, signing it as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and
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outlining “rules of engagement” against Trump administration officials while claiming remorse for potential bystanders. He had legally obtained weapons and traveled by train.
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Whether someone deserve the death penalty is ultimately a moral, philosophical, and legal question.
Arguments in favor include: retribution, deterrence, and justice for victims and society as a whole.
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Arguments in favor include: retribution, deterrence, and justice for victims and society as a whole.
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Premeditated violent attacks on the nation's leadership strike at the heart of democracy and public safety. Supporters argue that anything less than the ultimate penalty fails to match the severity and could embolden others.
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Despite the admissions made in his manifesto, Allen is still presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The investigation is ongoing, and more serious charges could still be added depending on evidence of specific intent to assassinate protected officials.
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