New details of the assassination attempt against U.S. President Donald Trump have come to light following revelations by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The accused, identified as Cole Allen, took an armed photograph of himself in front of his bedroom mirror minutes before the attack that occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
According to court documents filed on April 29, 2026, the image was captured at 8:03 p.m., approximately 30 minutes before the foiled attack at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held in the presence of government officials and more than 2,000 guests.
Trump attacker took armed selfie
The government is asking the court to detain White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen pending trial, according to court documents filed Wednesday. https://t.co/yAxRvldmmR
– CBS News (@CBSNews) April 29, 2026
According to the prosecution, Cole Allen was wearing all black with a red tie at the time the photograph was taken.
In the image he is seen carrying various weapons and tactical equipment, including a shoulder holster, ammunition, knives and tools such as pliers and wire cutters.
Authorities consider this evidence key to proving that the attack was premeditated.
Arsenal seized after arrest
#BREAKING: First images have been released showing the weaponscused by Cole Allen in the attempted assassination of President Trump on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/DYhkxT1KXf
– upuknews (@upuknews1) April 28, 2026
After being arrested at the scene, authorities confiscated several weapons in the defendant’s possession:
- One 12 gauge Mossberg shotgun
- One Rock Island Armory .38 caliber pistol
- Ammunition
- Two knives and four daggers
These elements were presented to the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia as part of the case, requesting that the defendant be remanded in custody without bail.
Planning the attack for weeks
🚨 NOW: Prosecutors have RELEASED new photos of leftist attempted Trump assassin Cole Allen taking mirror pics just minutes before trying to take out our president
The deranged man indoctrinated by leftist propaganda at 8:03PM took THESE photos in his hotel room prepping the… pic.twitter.com/fQIU65roZT
– Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 29, 2026
The investigation reveals that Allen, 31, had been planning the attack for several weeks.
To do so, he thoroughly researched the event, booked a room at the same hotel and traveled from California to Washington carrying the weaponry.
In addition, he programmed e-mails that would be sent automatically, in which he said goodbye to his relatives and explained his intentions.
In those emails he admitted that he was willing to attack members of the government and considered other attendees as “acceptable collateral damage”.
The moment of the attack captured on video
Exclusive: Surveillance footage shows the alleged gunman raising his shotgun in the direction of a Secret Service officer who then fired at him at least four times as he bolted through a security checkpoint outside the White House correspondents’ dinner. https://t.co/erXr96WkJ1
– The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 29, 2026
A video released by The Washington Post shows the clearest moment so far of the incident.
In the footage, which lasts only a few seconds, Allen is seen moving quickly toward the access area as he apparently raises his shotgun in the direction of a Secret Service agent.
The officer responded immediately, firing at least four shots to neutralize the attacker and prevent further tragedy.
Allen faces charges of attempted murder of the president of the United States, in addition to firearms-related offenses.
If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment.
The case has set off alerts about security at high-profile events in the United States, especially in a tense political context and in a key year for Donald Trump’s administration.
Filed under: Attacker Trump armed selfie
