The social media activity of Cole Thomas Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump, has revealed a shift over time from casual gaming posts to increasingly angry political messages.Allen, 31, allegedly stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner armed with guns and knives, leading to a chaotic scene during which shots were fired, Trump was escorted offstage and guests hid. He now faces charges that include attempted assassination, transporting firearms across state lines, and discharging a weapon during a violent crime. He did not enter a plea.As authorities piece together what led to the attack, they are closely examining Allen’s online presence.
Archived posts from accounts believed to belong to him indicate a gradual but clear change in tone and focus.Read also | Defendant Cole Allen is accused of attempting to assassinate the US PresidentIn 2022, Allen’s posts are largely focused on video games. He has frequently shared content related to the Nintendo Super Smash Bros. game. He promoted a YouTube channel featuring short gameplay videos. However, archived posts from 2024 show him re-sharing messages critical of Trump, including comparisons of the president to Adolf Hitler and claims of questioning the election results.
After an earlier assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Allen retweeted his posts baselessly speculating that the attack may have been staged.In one such post, a user wrote: “Trump is fully capable of pulling off a fake assassination attempt on himself to fool the American public,” a claim that Allen re-shared.Allen appeared to join Bluesky’s platform in February 2025, a few weeks into Trump’s second term.
There, he repeatedly criticized the administration and expressed frustration that more powerful figures were not taking action.“Everyone already knows Trump is a horrible person on multiple dimensions and no one has done that,” the account wrote in April 2025.Some posts also encouraged gun ownership. In December 2025, the account wrote: “The best time to buy a gun was a few days ago,” adding that “the second best time is today.”In March, another post read: “Put a traitor back in office, betrayed, I don’t understand why people are surprised the United States is tearing itself apart,” followed by another, “I’m pretty sure this is the expected outcome of having a traitor in power.”Investigators say these online messages echo the tone of a message Allen allegedly sent to family members before the incident, outlining plans to target officials and expressing anger at the government’s actions.
Authorities are also reviewing electronic devices seized during the investigation and examining whether he has any connections to political groups, CNN reported.Despite the online rhetoric, people who interacted with Allen in person described a different side of him. He was a part-time teacher in Torrance, California, and was viewed by students as smart and quiet. “Everyone in Torrance is shocked about this whole situation,” said Dylan Wakayama, founder of a volunteer group whose students worked with Allen.Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche said investigators were investigating possible links, while U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said additional charges may be filed.