Caltech graduate, 31-year-old engineer donated to Kamala Harris’ campaign in 2024
Cole Allen, 31 years old, was detained by Secret Service agents when trying to break into the office of the President of the United States, (Republican), with authorities, guests and journalists on Saturday (25.Apr.2026). The event was canceled after shots were fired outside the hall where the event was being held. An officer went, but not seriously.
The shooter, who lives in the city of Torrance, California, donated to the campaign of then-candidate and vice-president Kamala Harris (Democratic Party), in October 2024. Federal Election Commission records indicate that he donated US$25 (about R$125) to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises funds for Democrats.
See the record of the shooter’s donation to Kamala’s campaign:
In the donation registration, Allen indicated that he lived in a house on an avenue in Torrance, about 35 km from Los Angeles.
See below the facade of the property located at the address provided by him:
Here’s what we know so far about Cole Allen:
- profile – Cole Tomas Allen is 31 years old and lived in Torrance, California;
- studies – He has a degree in engineering from the prestigious (California Institute of Technology). In 2025, he completed a master’s degree in computer science at ;
- work – according to one attributed to Allen, he had worked since March 2020 as a part-time teacher at – the company specializes in preparation for university exams and guidance for college entrance, including preparation for the SATs (exam used to pass universities in the United States), such as pre-university courses in Brazil;
- political connections – there are no records of him being affiliated with a party. Federal Election Commission documents indicate, however, that he donated US$25 (about R$125) to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises funds for Democrats. The money was allocated to the campaign in October 2024 (read the donation record above);
- motivations for the attack – Allen sent a text to a few people before attacking dinner. He said his targets were members of the Trump administration;
- weapons training – according to , Allen regularly trained at a shooting range. On Saturday (25 April), he was detained with two firearms and knives. He constantly talked about doing “something” to solve the world’s problems. Also participated in an act “No Kings” in California, which was protesting the Trump administration;
- manifesto – Allen wrote that he intended to kill Trump administration officials. His main targets were authorities from the Republican administration, with the exception of the director of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), Kash Patel. Read in full.
An old video, from 2017, also began circulating on social media after the attack on Trump’s dinner. This is an excerpt from a report from the broadcaster ABC Newsin which Cole Allen talks about an emergency brake project he was developing for wheelchairs.
Watch the video (39s):
🎥 2017 video shows Trump dinner shooter
📷 In the images from the “ABC News” broadcast (), Cole Allen presents a project for an emergency brake that he was developing for wheelchairs.
👇 Watch the video:
— Poder360 (@Poder360)
ATTACK ON TRUMP’S DINNER
Read below what is known so far:
- what there was – an armed man during an event with Trump, the Secret Service responded and shots were fired;
- what was the event – the traditional dinner with sector journalists at the White House, held on April 25, 2026 at the Washington Hilton Hotel, in the US capital, with the Republican, the 1st echelon of the Trump administration, media professionals and guests;
- Trump escorted – as soon as the shots were heard, the Secret Service;
- who is the suspect – He is 31 years old, an engineer graduated from Caltech and living in California. He was carrying two firearms and several knives at the time he was restrained by the Secret Service. He is in the custody of the authorities;
- “lone wolf” – after the attack, Trump spoke to journalists and said he believed Cole Allen – he also had a photo of the man on his social media profile;
- injured in the attack – Trump stated that he, First Lady Melania, Vice President JD Vance and other members of the government who were at the dinner are fine, but that a Secret Service agent was . He said he spoke with the officer, who is fine and was wearing a bulletproof vest.
JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
Saturday’s dinner (April 25) between journalists and the President of the United States, , was organized by (“White House Correspondents Association”). The most correct way to translate the name of this private entity is “Association of Journalists who Cover the White House”.
A , in response to a statement by the then US president, Woodrow Wilson, who in 1913 said that he could end the tradition of participating in interviews with journalists, as “certain afternoon newspapers” (without saying which ones) they would be publishing phrases that he considered to have given privately.
The 1st Annual WHCA Dinner was held on May 7, 1921 at the Arlington Hotel on the corner of Vermont Avenue and L Street in Washington. The then US president, Warren G. Harding, did not attend the event. The first North American president to attend the dinner was Calvin Coolidge, in 1924.
Over the years, the dinner has become a tradition in the North American political world, in the country’s capital. The location changes from time to time. It’s always an opportunity for the country’s president to speak in a more relaxed way, listen and tell jokes.
These opportunities are seen as a celebration of freedom of expression, one of the most popular rights in the country and enshrined in 1791 by the , which prevents Congress from creating laws that limit freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion and petitioning the government.
