Donald Trump's Deeply Disappointing Would-Be Assassin
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old alleged assassin, attempted to kill the president at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, leaving many puzzled by his motives despite a detailed manifesto. His background as a highly intelligent but socially reclusive engineering graduate contrasts sharply with the extreme nature of his actions. Like past would-be assassins such as Lynette Fromme and Sara Jane Moore, Allen’s motivations remain vague and unsatisfying, highlighting how such acts often defy clear explanation.
- ▪Cole Tomas Allen allegedly attempted to assassinate the president at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
- ▪He graduated from Caltech and held a master's in computer science, working as a tutor before the attack.
- ▪His manifesto begins with 'Hello everybody!' and mixes temperate language with signs of deep psychological disturbance.
- ▪Allen's motivations, like those of past assassins such as Fromme and Moore, remain unclear and impersonal.
- ▪The article draws parallels between Allen and 1970s assassins of President Ford, emphasizing the puzzling nature of politically charged violence.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Politics Donald Trump's Deeply Disappointing Would-Be Assassin Cole Tomas Allen's actions just don't make sense, even in his own words, or in a time of political polarization. Nick Gillespie | 5.1.2026 3:07 PM Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google Media Contact & Reprint Requests <img src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/c800x450-w800-q80/uploads/2026/05/Cole-Allen-v1-800x450.jpg" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto" width="1200" height="675" title="Cole Tomas Allen" alt="Cole Tomas Allen | Avalon/U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/UPI/Newscom" /> (Avalon/U.S.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Reason.com.
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