WASHINGTON: The White House on Monday blamed what it called a “left-wing cult of hatred” for a shooting at a gala correspondents’ dinner in Washington attended by US President Donald Trump, as authorities charged the suspect with attempting to assassinate the president.
The incident took place at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, an annual gathering of journalists, politicians and public figures, where security forces said they foiled an apparent attack.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the incident was the third assassination attempt targeting Republican Trump in the past two years.
“The left-wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him has gotten multiple people hurt and killed, and it almost did so again this weekend.”
In a press conference minutes after the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump took a more conciliatory tone towards the media.
But Leavitt, who was on stage with Trump at the dinner when the incident happened, said there had been “systemic demonisation” of the 79-year-old president.
“Nobody in recent years has faced more bullets and more violence than President Trump,” said Leavitt.
“Those who constantly, falsely label and slander the president as a fascist, as a threat to democracy, and compare him to Hitler to score political points, are fuelling this kind of violence,” she added.
Suspect charged with attempting to assassinate Trump
Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California.
He appeared in a Washington federal court on Monday wearing a blue prison jumpsuit.
Prosecutors said he attempted to breach security at the event and shot a US Secret Service agent.
“He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J Trump,” federal prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine told the court.
Allen faces three charges: attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm across state lines to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
US Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Allen to remain in custody as the case proceeds.
A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday to determine whether he will continue to be held pending trial. A preliminary hearing has been set for May 11.
Prosecutors said Allen crossed multiple state lines and was in possession of a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, three knives and other weapons.
While none of the charges explicitly mention terrorism, prosecutors argued that attempting to assassinate the president could be treated as a domestic terrorism offence under US law, which carries the possibility of life imprisonment.
Allen did not enter a plea during the hearing. When asked by the judge, he confirmed that he understood the charges and said he would answer questions truthfully.
He also stated that he holds a master’s degree in computer science.
