The manifesto left behind by the alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman contained a structured section where he preemptively defended his planned attack against anticipated criticism, including one objection centered on his own racial background.
Cole Allen, 31, addressed at least five hypothetical pushbacks in a formal “Rebuttals to objections” portion of the 1,052-word document he emailed to relatives roughly 10 minutes before Saturday’s shooting, the New York Post (NYP) reported after obtaining the full text. One entry anticipated that “as a half-black, half-white person, you shouldn’t be the one doing this.” Allen’s response: “I don’t see anyone else picking up the slack.”
The document also tackled religious objections. Allen dismissed the Christian principle of turning the other cheek, arguing it applied only to personal suffering rather than the oppression of others. He rejected the biblical instruction to “yield unto Caesar,” writing that American governance answers to law rather than individual authority, the NYP reported. (RELATED: Friendly Federal Assassin’: WHCD Shooter Reportedly Sent Anti-Trump Manifesto To Family Just Before Rushing Ballroom)
Those passages carried added weight given Allen’s own background. His LinkedIn profile listed him as a member of Caltech’s Christian Fellowship during his undergraduate years, Newsweek reported. President Trump addressed the manifesto’s religious content on Fox News Sunday, calling Allen “a very troubled guy” and adding, “he hates Christians,” according to Fox News.
Read White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman Cole Allen’s full anti-Trump manifesto https://t.co/TOIl9FNCEg pic.twitter.com/Z9nW5Pq7vl
— New York Post (@nypost) April 26, 2026
When confronted with the hypothetical objection that he would fail to reach all of his intended targets, Allen offered a three-word reply in the manifesto: “Gotta start somewhere.” The document opened with a string of apologies directed at his parents, colleagues, students, and nearby bystanders, including a joke that his parents’ interview would be for “Most Wanted,” according to the NYP.
Allen’s tone throughout the document was described as “matter-of-fact, and at times ironic” by CBS News, which independently obtained a copy. Investigators also turned up separate writings in Allen’s 10th-floor Washington Hilton hotel room and at his Torrance residence, the outlet reported.
Allen has refused to cooperate with federal authorities, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed.