President Donald Trump erupted in anger at CBS journalist Norah O’Donnell after she read him excerpts from what is said to be a manifesto written by Cole Tomas Allen, the man charged with trying to kill Trump at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Some conservatives seem to think no good can be served from reading these words, but that’s a mistake: It’s always useful to be reminded, again, of the banality of evil.
The distinguishing feature of the manifesto is its insipidity. “I am a citizen of the United States,” Allen writes. “What my representatives do reflects on me.” Later, he justifies the possibility that he might harm the people in the ballroom “on the basis that most people chose to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist and traitor, and are thus complicit,” although he adds that “I really hope it doesn’t come to that.”
The manifesto lays out five objections to what he is about to attempt — starting with “As a Christian, you should turn the other cheek” — followed by his brief rebuttals. The impression is less of a person struggling with an anguished conscience than of someone not bright enough to come up with objections that would force anything but glib self-justification.
Finally, the author is at pains to convey the impression that he’s a nice guy with a sense of humor. He apologizes to everyone he deceived and offers copious thanks to family, friends, colleagues and students. His final words are that he experiences “rage thinking about everything this administration has done,” followed by “Stay in school, kids.” He is — or so he thinks — Guy Fawkes by way of Sesame Street.
In addition to his ridiculous “manifesto,” Allen posed for a selfie on the way to his failed assassination attempt:
Yes, Cole Allen is an attempted assassin, a Bluesky brain rotted idiot, and a dangerous guy, but the dork factor here should not be overlooked. https://t.co/rFSH5fTGkS
— Jerry Dunleavy IV 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) April 29, 2026
The dude is going to spend the rest of his life in federal prison. He gave it all up just for this photo. It’s horrifying. https://t.co/w1OShjZYxv
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) April 29, 2026
Of course, that was far from the most embarrassing look for Allen on Saturday night. As Blehar wrote yesterday, “A potential atrocity was instantly prevented. The most memorable image from Saturday’s WHCD will not be one of blood, or tears, or spectacularly televised violence; it will be that of a naked, hog-tied Cole Allen kissing the carpet as he lies prone with a Mylar blanket draped over his raggedy hindquarters to hide his shame. (Police had stripped him to search for weapons.)”
this is not a joke btw. psychopathic political influencers turned luigi mangione into a new heroic archetype. the image is rooted in "cool." shame is the only thing that can really do damage to these people now. what happens to them needs to be unimaginably mortifying.
— Mike Solana (@micsolana) April 27, 2026