Despite Manifesto, Obama Says Shooter's Motive Unknown

Former US president Barack Obama said Sunday that details about the motive behind the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting were still unknown, despite reports that the suspect had expressed intent to target Trump administration officials.

“Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting… it’s incumbent upon all of us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” Obama wrote on X. He also praised US Secret Service agents and said he was grateful the wounded officer was expected to recover.

Obama’s remarks drew swift criticism from Republican officials and commentators, who pointed to a manifesto attributed to the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen, in which he allegedly outlined plans to attack members of the Trump administration.

Former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the attack was “politically motivated,” while Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin accused Obama of downplaying the motive. Senator Mike Lee of Utah also said the suspect had made his intentions clear.

According to law enforcement sources, Allen confessed after his arrest that he was targeting administration officials. Authorities said he attempted to force his way into the Washington Hilton ballroom during the annual dinner, where President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and senior officials were উপস্থিত.

Allen was subdued at the scene after opening fire. One Secret Service agent was struck but protected by a bulletproof vest, and no other injuries were reported.

Prosecutors are expected to charge Allen with multiple federal offenses, including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer. He is due to be arraigned Monday as investigators continue to examine his writings and reconstruct the events leading up to the attack.