Federal authorities in the United States have charged Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump after he allegedly shot a Secret Service agent while trying to breach security at a press gala.

The three-count complaint also includes firearms charges. Allen made his first court appearance in Washington, D.C., wearing a blue prison jumpsuit, two days after the alleged attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine stated in court that Allen “attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump.” Allen has not yet responded to the allegations and said he would answer all questions truthfully.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Allen detained pending further proceedings. The shooting, considered the third assassination attempt against Trump since 2024, has shaken U.S. politics.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt blamed Democratic rhetoric for inspiring political violence, calling the incident a result of “deranged lies and smears.” She added that Trump does not view it as a security failure, noting the perpetrator was quickly neutralized.

Source: www.aljazeera.com