Cole Tomas Allen has appeared in a Washington, D.C. federal court accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump.

The 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, California, was arraigned on Monday (27.04.26), facing charges of attempting to assassinate the president of the United States along with two federal gun offences, according to reporting by The New York Times and NBC News.

He is said to have tried to wipe them out on Saturday, 25 April, at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held.

Among those present were US president Donald Trump, aged 79, and his vice-president JD Vance, 41.

During the court hearing, federal prosecutors alleged Allen had been carrying multiple weapons when he approached a security checkpoint.

According to reports, he was armed with a shotgun, a pistol and three knives.

He did not enter a plea at the arraignment.

Authorities said an officer was struck by a bullet during the incident but was protected by a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover.

The dinner event, which traditionally gathers journalists, politicians and public figures, was underway at the time of the alleged assassination attempt.

Speaking about the investigation, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: "We do believe, based upon just a very preliminary start to understanding what happened, that he was targeting members of the administration."

The White House has also said Allen allegedly produced written material outlining his intentions.

Officials said: "The suspect's written manifesto clearly stated he wanted to target administration officials."

Further details have emerged about Allen's background, with reports indicating that family members had raised concerns with law enforcement prior to the incident.

According to earlier coverage, his sister had warned authorities about radical statements he had allegedly made, while his brother also contacted police regarding writings sent shortly before the dinner event.

A profile bearing Allen's name and image on the professional networking platform LinkedIn described him as a "mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth".

Allen remains in federal custody as the case proceeds through the US legal system.

The assassination attempt came just ahead of King Charles' visit to the US, which is now underway under increased security.