Cole Allen Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, pleaded not guilty on Monday to four federal charges including the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, according to CNBC. The charges stem from an alleged armed attempt to storm the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026, where the president was among more than 2,500 attendees.

The Details

Allen was arraigned before Judge Trevor McFadden at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Monday, May 11. He did not speak during the proceeding; his attorney entered the plea on his behalf, The Guardian reported. Allen appeared in the courtroom wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and was shackled at his wrists and feet, according to the BBC.

Allen faces four federal charges, Reuters reported: attempted assassination of the President of the United States; transporting firearms interstate; discharge of a firearm during an act of violence; and assault on law enforcement.

Allen allegedly attempted to storm the ballroom at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on the evening of April 25, 2026, the BBC reported. He was allegedly armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives when he was stopped at a security checkpoint at the hotel, The Guardian reported. Allen was apprehended after he allegedly fired a shotgun at a U.S. Secret Service agent near a staircase leading to the ballroom, according to the BBC.

Defense attorneys for Allen are seeking the recusal of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche from the prosecution, CNN reported. The defense argues that both officials were present at the White House Correspondents' dinner and may have been targets, creating a conflict of interest in the prosecution.

Context

The White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 25, 2026, drew President Trump, more than 2,500 journalists, and top U.S. officials to the Washington Hilton, The Guardian reported.

What's Next

The case will proceed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. No trial date has been set.