The attacker at the US government media dinner is 31 years old, has a college degree and worked as a teacher and video game developer. Shortly before his crime, he apparently sent a manifesto to his family. The content of the letter is now public.
April 27, 2026, 05:40April 27, 2026, 05:51
Cole Tomas Allen is 31 years old, studied mechanical engineering at the renowned Caltech University of California and worked as a tutor and as a freelance video game and app developer. These facts were just shortly after his Attack and his arrest at the US Government Correspondents’ Dinner known to media representatives. The authorities quickly made his identity known, and Allen’s Linkedin profile provided information about his origins and professional career.
Cole Tomas Allen completed a master’s degree in computer science in 2025.Image: x/screenshot
The 31-year-old’s motives for his action in the Hilton Hotel in the capital Washington were not so quickly clear. But now there is a manifesto from the perpetrator, which Donald Trump and other government officials had already mentioned in statements New clues about Allen’s motives: This makes it clear that the 31-year-old wanted to target members of the US government. The authenticity of the document is still being investigated. US Attorney General Todd Blanche had already stated on Sunday evening that it was currently assumed that Allen wanted to attack members of the government.
Allen is said to have sent the manifesto to his family just ten minutes before the attack in Washington. The New York Post published the entire letter, which counts 1052 words, verbatim. The explanations are sometimes confusing, but leave little doubt about Allen’s motivation for the attack. First of all, he apologizes several times to family members, friends and people he met on his trip to Washington for lies he told them about his (departure) departure.
Then Allen writes about his motive. He is a citizen of America, and what the representatives in the capital do has direct consequences for him.
“And I am no longer willing to allow a pedophile, rapist and traitor to soil my hands with his crimes.”
He adds that he honestly hasn’t been willing to do this for a long time, but this is the first opportunity to do something about it. Allen doesn’t name any names, but it seems plausible that he means US President Donald Trump by the terms mentioned, as he is often referred to with these keywords, especially in online discourse by political opponents.
Then the tutor writes about his “rules of engagement” and “goals”. He names government officials as a priority target, “from the highest rank to the lowest.” Secret Service employees are only a target if it is “necessary,” as are hotel security guards (“unless they shoot at me”). The same applies to the Capitol Police, members of the National Guard and other hotel employees. Guests at the dinner are “not a target group at all”.
The alleged perpetrator further justifies himself against several objections that, from his point of view, could be raised against his action. He also mentions Christian motifs. Among other things, it says: “Turning the other cheek when someone else is being oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the crimes of the oppressor.”
These passages cast doubt on the interpretation of Donald Trump, who declared on Sunday that the attacker “hates Christians.” Trump told Fox News:
«If you read his manifesto, you realize that he hates Christians. That’s for sure, he hates Christians.”
According to the White House, one of Allen’s sisters explained that Allen had a tendency to make radical statements when he was involved in the left-wing scene in Los Angeles. He acquired weapons and trained several times at a shooting range.
At times, Allen’s manifesto reads like a farewell letter. Among other things, he also writes that he wants to thank a large number of people because he probably won’t be able to talk to them anymore. He added in parentheses: “Unless the Secret Service is astonishingly incompetent.”
Allen concludes his letter with thanks to his relatives, “both my private and my church family, for your love over the past 31 years” as well as to friends, professional colleagues and students. He signed the letter Cole “coldForce” and “Friendly Federal Assassin” Allen.
In a PS addendum, he expresses his surprise at the lax security measures at the media gala (“What the hell is the Secret Service doing?”). He expected cameras on every corner, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every ten feet and metal detectors “galore.” He got “nothing from it”. He checked into the hotel with several weapons in his luggage and not a single person there considered that he might be a threat.
The security precautions at the event took place exclusively outside and focused on demonstrators and people who were now arriving. Apparently no one thought about what would happen if someone checked in the day before. The level of incompetence is insane, says Allen.
“I sincerely hope that this will be resolved by the time this country finally has truly competent leadership again.”
Allen goes on to write about his emotional state, apparently shortly before he wanted to strike. It’s terrible, he feels sick and wants to cry “for all the things I wanted to do and will never do.”
According to the New York Post, the letter was sent just ten minutes before the escalation over dinner. There was an exchange of gunfire at the Hilton Hotel, in which a Secret Service agent was injured. US President Donald Trump and other government members were hastily evacuated from the main hall. Allen was overpowered and arrested by security forces. He is scheduled to be brought before a judge on Monday.