Arizona Leaders React To Assassination Attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

April 26, 2026 ADI Staff Reporter
shooter
Cole Allen, age 31, wrote a "manifesto" outlining his plan to target Trump administration officials, "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest."

Arizona Republican Congressman Abe Hamadeh said hearing gunshots at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner attended by President Trump on Saturday “almost felt like a school shooting.”

“You’re seeing people, hearing them praying,” Hamadeh said. “This is the greatest country on earth, and why are we living like this? This is the 250th anniversary of our country. We should be celebrating the greatness of our country. The evening was short, but I’m glad everybody was safe. And I’m glad they were able to apprehend this suspect quickly.”

Later, Hamadeh called out Senate Democrats in a tweet, “Democrats in Congress have forced Secret Service agents to work without pay for over a month while whipping their base into a dangerous frenzy — one that just produced a maniac attempting to shoot up the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”

“We are grateful no one was harmed. But we can no longer accept a political climate where extremist left-wing agitators incite division and violence, radicalizing Americans into acts of terror against their fellow citizens,” continued Hamadeh.

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari claimed the violence was part of the “daily reality for communities across the country.”

“I was at the WHCD last night. I’m grateful to law enforcement for acting quickly and ensuring everyone’s safety,” tweeted Ansari. “On a personal note, I’m deeply thankful to Senator Jacky Rosen, who held me under the table and kept telling me we’d be okay as I was shaking and in tears.”

“What’s hardest to process is that this kind of violence is a daily reality for communities across the country,” concluded Ansari.

Representative Andy Biggs appeared to be certain of the cause of the shooting, tweeting, “Tonight was another reminder that evil exists and that those who carry out its schemes seek to wreak chaos within our Constitutional Republic. I’m grateful no harm came to our president or any elected or administration official, or journalist in the room. May God bless and keep America.”

Congressman Juan Ciscomani offered prayers and called on Democrats to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security.

“Tonight we pray for our entire country,” tweeted Ciscomani. “Thankful the President, Vice President, and everyone are safe tonight. And grateful for the Secret Service’s and all law enforcement’s swift and decisive action to move and protect those at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. May God grant His protection over our nation’s leaders and all who serve to keep her safe.”

Congressman Greg Stanton’s response was subdued, “I’m grateful for the swift response from Secret Service after a dangerous and harrowing incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Praying for the safety of all in attendance.”

The shooter, Cole Allen, had written a manifesto in which he said he wanted to target administration officials.

Investigators also found extensive anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric across his social media accounts.

According to reports, Allen’s brother alerted the New London Police Department after receiving the alleged manifesto before the incident.

U.S. Secret Service and Montgomery County Police Department later interviewed Allen’s sister, Avriana Allen, at the family home in Rockville, California. She said her brother often made radical statements and spoke about doing “something” to fix today’s world.

Allen was reportedly linked to a group called “The Wide Awakes” and attended a “No Kings” protest in California.

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