The manifesto allegedly composed by the individual involved in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting included a specific section where he addressed potential criticisms of his actions, notably referencing his mixed racial heritage.
Cole Allen, 31, tackled at least five hypothetical objections in a formal “Rebuttals to objections” section of the 1,052-word document he sent to family members about ten minutes before the incident, as reported by the New York Post. One anticipated criticism pointed out that “as a half-black, half-white person, you shouldn’t be the one doing this.” Allen responded with, “I don’t see anyone else picking up the slack.”
The manifesto also confronted religious arguments. Allen dismissed the Christian principle of turning the other cheek, asserting that it was relevant only to personal suffering, not to the oppression of others. He critiqued the biblical guidance to “yield unto Caesar,” stating that U.S. governance should adhere to law, not individual authority, according to the NYP.
These statements gained significance in light of Allen’s own background. His LinkedIn profile indicated he was part of Caltech’s Christian Fellowship during his college years, as noted by Newsweek. President Trump responded to the manifesto’s religious threads on Fox News Sunday, characterizing Allen as “a very troubled guy” who “hates Christians.”
When facing the hypothetical concern about potentially missing his targets, Allen succinctly replied in the manifesto: “Gotta start somewhere.” The document began with a series of apologies directed toward his parents, coworkers, students, and others nearby, including a light-hearted remark about his parents being featured on “Most Wanted,” as reported by the NYP.
Throughout the manifesto, Allen’s tone was described as “matter-of-fact, and at times ironic” by CBS News, which independently obtained a copy. Investigators also discovered additional writings in Allen’s hotel room at the Washington Hilton and his residence in Torrance, according to the outlet.
Allen has chosen not to cooperate with federal authorities, as confirmed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
