Attack On Trump: Suspect Manifesto & Media Spin | 4.27.26

Summary

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Morning Wire – "Attack On Trump: Suspect Manifesto & Media Spin" | April 27, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Morning Wire, hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe, covers the attempted assassination of President Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. The investigation's early findings are discussed, including insights into the attacker's manifesto, security lapses, and the evolving media narrative. The episode features on-the-ground accounts from Daily Wire staff who were present, and examines the response from law enforcement and the press.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Assassination Attempt: Sequence of Events

• Timeline & Incident Details ([03:03]):

  • The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen, stormed through a security checkpoint at the Correspondents Dinner armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives.
  • He fired at least once, injuring a Secret Service officer (non-life-threatening, officer released Sunday). Allen was subdued by other agents after a brief exchange.
  • Allen had checked into the event hotel earlier in the week—a security loophole, as this allowed him access to the venue without a formal invite or ticket.
  • Site was the Washington Hilton, notably where President Reagan was shot in 1981.

  Notable Quote:
  "He fired at least one shot, striking a Secret Service officer in their bulletproof vest. Thankfully, that officer was released from the hospital Sunday morning."
  — Cabot Phillips [03:17]

2. The Manifesto & Motive

• Manifesto Insights ([04:11]):

  • Allen sent his family a manifesto just before the attack, calling himself the “friendly federal assassin.”
  • Manifesto included a targeted list of White House officials and referenced rage over Trump administration policies (ICE detention, Iran, Navy operations).
  • He apologized to family members, made clear his intent, and rationalized targeting attendees for being “complicit.”

  Notable Quote:
  "Cole reportedly sent his family a manifesto referring to himself as the quote, friendly federal assassin."
  — Cabot Phillips [04:13]

  "I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done."
  — Quoting suspect’s manifesto [04:27]

  • The manifesto referenced lax security, indicating Allen's shock at how easily he gained access:

  Notable Quote:
  "I expected security cameras at every bend. What I got, who knows, Maybe they're pranking me… I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat."
  — Reading from the manifesto [05:14]

3. Security Breakdown & Immediate Response

• Law Enforcement Reaction ([05:34]):

  • Acting Attorney General and Secret Service defended procedures, insisting the perimeter worked as designed.
  • Criticism from the right over how easily the suspect accessed the venue via the hotel.
  • President Trump renewed calls for a secure presidential ballroom on White House grounds (referencing a legal battle over the halted project).

  Notable Quotes:
  "Law enforcement and the Secret Service protected all of us. When you have a perimeter designed to keep people safe like President Trump and it works, that's something that should be applauded. We're not going to stop living. We're not going to stop being out there." — Georgia Howe [05:40]

4. Inside the Ballroom: Firsthand Accounts

• Eyewitness Perspective ([08:13]–[11:44]):

  • Editor-in-Chief, Brent Schur, details the scene: ballroom filled with politicians and celebrities; initial confusion over whether loud noises were gunshots.
  • Secret Service responded quickly; guests hid under tables for several tense minutes before being evacuated.
  • Security perimeter described as somewhat lax (ticket-checking at entrance, accessible to hotel guests).

  Memorable Moment:
  "Everybody in this massive ballroom, and I'd say there were 2,500 people in there, get underneath their tables and stay there for a very, very tense two to three minutes."
  — Georgia Howe [09:24]

  "If it's not safe for [Congressmen] to be in this room, is it safe for us?"
  — Paraphrased from Brent Schur [09:56]

5. The Future of the Correspondents Dinner & Security Concerns

• Upcoming Plans ([11:44]):

  • No future date set, but expectation for another dinner soon.
  • Calls for reevaluation of security—questioning whether the Hilton remains viable as a venue, given elevated threats.

  Notable Reflection:
  "What worked in the past may not work now, because we live in a different world. And it just… feels like we're in an elevated society when it comes to political violence." — Georgia Howe [12:33]

6. Media Reaction & Narrative Spin

• Legacy Media Reflection ([13:36]–[15:03]):

  • Jimmy Kimmel's satirical monologue draws criticism for its tone in the climate of repeated threats.
  • Van Jones (CNN) and others call for more responsible rhetoric.
  • Contradictory trends: some express concern; others continue polarizing commentary and even blame Trump for the violence.
  • High-profile media and journalist organizations advocated for protest and boycotts of the event in advance.
  • Political commentator Steve Schmidt (Lincoln Project) placed responsibility for “poisoning rhetoric” squarely on Trump.

  Notable Quotes:
  "Violence is not the way to resolve any grievances. And this cheerleader culture for violence… has to be called out immediately."
  — Van Jones [14:26]

  "There's one person beyond and above all others who's responsible for poisoning the rhetoric in America. That guy's name is Donald Trump."
  — Steve Schmidt (Lincoln Project), via Tim Rice [16:40]

• Trump's Direct Outreach to Journalists ([17:35]):

  • President Trump personally called journalists after the incident to check on their well-being, including some from left-leaning media.

  Memorable Moment:
  "My phone rang shortly after 7am. It was President Trump."
  — Quoted by John Carl of ABC [17:31]

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "He fired at least one shot, striking a Secret Service officer in their bulletproof vest. Thankfully, that officer was released from the hospital Sunday morning."
  — Cabot Phillips [03:17]

• “I expected security cameras at every bend. What I got, who knows, Maybe they're pranking me… I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.”
  — Excerpt from Cole Allen’s manifesto, read by Phillips [05:14]

• "Everybody in this massive ballroom, and I'd say there were 2,500 people in there, get underneath their tables and stay there for a very, very tense two to three minutes."
  — Georgia Howe [09:24]

• "Violence is not the way to resolve any grievances. And this cheerleader culture for violence… has to be called out immediately."
  — Van Jones [14:26]

• "There's one person beyond and above all others who's responsible for poisoning the rhetoric in America. That guy's name is Donald Trump."
  — Steve Schmidt [16:40]

• "My phone rang shortly after 7am. It was President Trump… He said at first he was calling to see if I was okay."
  — John Carl of ABC, quoted by Georgia Howe and Megan Basham [17:31]

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [03:03] – Summary of events and shooter’s actions
• [04:11] – Manifesto review and stated motives
• [05:25] – Security debate, criticisms, and President Trump’s response
• [08:13] – Firsthand account from Brent Schur inside the ballroom
• [13:36] – Media reaction, notable commentary, and scrutiny of rhetoric
• [17:31] – Trump directly reaching out to journalists

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Tone & Takeaways

• The episode's tone is urgent, focusing on the seriousness and frequency of politically motivated violence, and a deep skepticism toward current security procedures.
• Media rhetoric and bias are critically examined, with the podcast suggesting a double standard and lack of reflection from much of the legacy press.
• The personal outreach from President Trump is depicted as a hopeful gesture of unity amid ongoing division.

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This summary captures the critical developments, firsthand perspectives, and the broader debate on security and rhetoric following the third assassination attempt on President Trump. The episode offers insight into media dynamics, security oversights, and the emotionally charged climate surrounding U.S. politics.

Transcript

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[John Bickley]

Washington reels after yet another assassination attempt targeting President Trump.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I wasn't worried.

[Georgia Howe]

I understand life. We live in a crazy world.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Monday, April 27th. This is Morning Wire.

[Announcer/Advertiser]

We learn more about the suspect, his planned attack and how it was thwarted.

[Georgia Howe]

The way he got around not having a ticket was he was just a guest at the hotel, which seems like a major, major security issue.

[John Bickley]

And as conspiracy theories about the incident spread, the battle over the narrative ratchets up online and in D.C. thanks for

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waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

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36 hours after the White House Correspondents dinner shooting, new details are shedding light on the motives of the would be

[John Bickley]

killer Cabot Phillips, host of Wired and Live, joins us now with the latest. A Cabot so a really scary sequence of events on Saturday night that you were covering for us as it was happening live. Luckily, no one severely injured. At least we do have a suspect. Now, we also have a manifesto and I want to get to that in a second. But first, a lot more details have come to light about what exactly took place. What do we know now?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. As we all saw in that haunting video posted By President Trump, 31 year old Cole Allen sprinted through a security checkpoint at the correspondence dinner armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. Now, from what we know, he fired at least one shot, striking a Secret Service officer in their bulletproof vest. Thankfully, that officer was released from the hospital Sunday morning and after a brief exchange of gunfire, he was then tackled by a number of other agents. Police say that Allen had earlier in the week booked a room in the Hilton Hotel. That's where the event was taking place and ironically, the same hotel where President Reagan was shot back in 1981. Allen was taken to a local hospital after the shooting with minor injuries before being Transferred to a D.C. detention facility on Sunday. Have his first court appearance later today where he will be charged with at least two counts, including use of a firearm during a violent crime and assault on federal officers. However, according to DOJ officials, he is likely to face more serious charges as the investigation proceeds. There could be something related to terrorism or hate crime charges as well, Right?

[John Bickley]

A lot of this does hinge on the motivations for this attack and we have learned more there with this manifesto. What do we know now?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, according to authorities, the California native had a deep hatred of President Trump and really his entire administration. Just before opening fire, Cole reportedly sent his family a manifesto referring to himself as the quote, friendly federal assassin. At least some members of his immediate family were concerned and contacted law enforcement. But by then it was too late. The New York Post has since obtained that manifesto and as expected, it is full of anti Trump rhetoric. Colors starts by apologizing to his family before making clear that he had compiled a specific list and with rankings of White House officials that he planned to kill while saying, quote, I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done. And to that point, Cole includes a number of references to Trump era policies and actions, including ICE detention facilities, civilian casualties of war in Iran, and even drug smugglers who have been killed. He refers to them as fishermen by the Navy off the coast of South America. Later on, Cole says that he did not plan to explicitly target those in attendance that includes our daily wire team, but would still shoot them because they, quote, chose to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist and traitor and are thus complicit. So, by all accounts, this does appear to be yet another example of anti Trump political terrorism.

[Ben Shapiro]

Right.

[John Bickley]

All signs do seem to be pointing in that direction. Now, a lot has been made of the security situation at this event. What is the latest on that front?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch actually defended the Secret Service and said the protocols they had in place worked.

[Georgia Howe]

Law enforcement and the Secret Service protected all of us. When you have a perimeter designed to keep people safe like President Trump and it works, that's something that should be applauded. We're not going to stop living. We're not going to stop being out there.

[Ryan Reynolds]

However, many on the right, as I'm sure you've seen, were quick to question why the main entrance of the hotel was not more secure, especially given the growing number of attempts we've seen on President Trump's life. And in his alleged manifesto, Allen actually expressed his disbelief at the relatively lax security measures, writing, quote, I expected security cameras at every bend. What I got, who knows, Maybe they're pranking me is nothing. I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat. The security at the event is all outside, focused on protesters and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before. President Trump said Sunday morning that the shooting strengthens his case for a presidential ballroom, writing online that law enforcement and, quote, every president for the last 150 years had been demanding that a large, safe and secure ballroom be built on the grounds of the White House. And it's worth pointing out, last month, a federal judge did temporarily halt President Trump's construction of that project, saying it requires congressional approval, among many other things. So you can bet that this incident is, and President Trump's comments will only put renewed focus on that legal battle.

[John Bickley]

Certainly not the last we'll hear about that ballroom or this very serious assassination attempt it's consuming D.C. at this point. Kevin, thanks for reporting.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Absolutely.

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to 83848 the Daily Wire was front and center for the harrowing night Saturday at the Washington Hilton.

[John Bickley]

Joining us now is our editor in chief, Brent Schur, who was there in the ballroom as all this chaos unfolded. Brent, first, glad everyone's okay and thanks for coming on.

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, of course. Scary situation, but it seems like everybody's fine.

[John Bickley]

Yeah. So sheer pandemonium on a night that was gearing up to be a lot of fun. I know you were dressed up. Everybody's ready for a pretty good time. Paint the picture for us, if you would. How quickly did you know that something was seriously, something serious was happening?

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah. I mean, just to get into what that room was, everybody's in that room. Obviously, Donald Trump, JD Vance are up front on the stage. But then other than that, it's Pete Hegseth, it's Marco Rubio, it's Erica Kirk, it's Dana White, it's Nicki Minaj. It's so many famous people crammed into this room. My table was right near that front entrance where Donald Trump said it best. And I had the same thought it was. You hear something and you think, is that a tray falling or a bullet? And it became quite obvious that it was bullets and shots fired. And immediately a bunch of Secret Service comes sprinting through the room. A bunch of people who were sitting there among us at tables that we didn't know were security all of a sudden get up and spring into action. Everybody in this massive ballroom, and I'd say there were 2,500 people in there, get underneath their tables and stay there for a very, very tense two to three minutes. And I'll tell you, one of the scariest things was, as you see, security escorting people like Cash Patel came right by our table. Speaker Mike Johnson right by our table. And it's a very tense situation where they're being brought out. A lot of the people around me were like, well, if it's not safe for them to be in this room. Is it safe for us to be in this room? And then all of a sudden, they told everybody, get up, let's get out of here. And there was this mass exodus up the escalators and into the lobby where we all started to figure out what was happening.

[John Bickley]

Just total chaos. And like you said, very scary. For a while there, things did calm down somewhat, and the presence of Secret Service. I actually wanted to ask you exactly about this. What did you see in terms of security on the ground?

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, it's really interesting. The closest you could get to the hotel, it's the Washington Hilton, is about three blocks away, and there was a security perimeter set up. To get through that perimeter, you needed to show them a ticket, but just show them a ticket. You didn't need to find your name on a list or anything like that. Just show them a ticket and you're allowed into the hotel lobby. What we're finding out with the shooter seems like a major, major security issue, that anybody staying at this massive Hilton could just take a elevator straight down to the red carpet and this whole area. But again, inside that room, that was Secret Service protected. Metal detectors, checks on purses, and nothing reached that room except the panic from what happened outside of that secure perimeter.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Right.

[John Bickley]

Officials are saying, look, our perimeter worked exactly how it was supposed to, and it did, in fact, stop the threat. Uh, final question is Trump announced there should be another White House correspondents dinner pretty soon. What is the latest on that front? Do we have any dates?

[Georgia Howe]

There has been no formal date announced. I think it's definitely true that there should be another event. And I think everybody in that room agrees this kind of felt like the first truly bipartisan excitement for a White House correspondence dinner in a long time. I mean, conservative media, with Donald Trump going for the first time as president, was in that room, and liberal media and legacy media was in there, too. I think there definitely will be another White House correspondence center in the next month or so. The question to me is whether it will be at the Washington Hilton, because there are some clear limitations to what's possible from a security perimeter. And what worked in the past may not work now, because we live in a different world. And it just. It feels like we're in an elevated society when it comes to political violence. And I think they're going to need to figure out a way to ensure that this event can be safe.

[John Bickley]

It's unfortunate, but it's just true. This is the reality of the situation. Brent, thank you so much for coming

[Georgia Howe]

on, of course, John

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[Georgia Howe]

Look at me. So beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.

[John Bickley]

That was Jimmy Kimmel a few days ago delivering his alternative White House correspondence dinner monologue. Such rhetoric is drawing renewed scrutiny after President Trump survived his third assassination attempt in less than two years.

[Announcer/Advertiser]

Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham is here now with more on the media reaction. So, Megan, here we are again. Another assassination attempt. The first time around, there was some reflection by the legacy media about some of the rhetoric. That concern didn't seem to last very long. Is there any sign that this most recent event is going to have an impact, maybe even just because there were so many journalists present?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, I think that's possible, Georgia. We are hearing some calls from legacy media to at least consider how they talk about this president and his administration. So CNN's Van Jones was one of voices.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Violence is not the way to resolve any grievances. And this cheerleader culture for violence.

[John Bickley]

For people who think that the answer to our problems is to go shooting billionaires or going to synagogues or all these different things has to be called out immediately.

[Megan Basham]

Brian Stelter, again, CNN offered some similar cautions and he even offered some praise for the president who he described as a unifying figure in the aftermath of this shooting. But I do have to be honest with you, Georgia, I much more both before the dinner and also after that indicates that nothing may change here.

[Announcer/Advertiser]

And what did you see that gave you those concerns?

[Megan Basham]

So only four days before this dinner, the New York Times ran a sympathetic interview with Hassan Piker, who can only be described as an extreme left wing commentator. He's actually made jokes calling for the president's assassination. Some quotes from Piker leaving out the expletives here. Yeah, kill them. Murder those mfers in the street. Let the streets soak in their effing red capitalist blood. And then also this week in the run up to the dinner, there was an effort by some major journalism associations and by some very high profile media figures calling for boycotts of this dinner. So just to give you an example, more than 250 journalists, including the Society of Professional Journalists, the National association of Black Journalists, people like Dan Rather, Sam Donaldson, Ann Curry, they published an open letter saying that because these are not, quote, normal times, anyone who attended the dinner needed to forcefully demonstrate opposition to the President. They also said that the White House Correspondents association should not, quote, normalize Trump's behavior, but instead fight back. And then after the dinner, we saw some in the media once again blaming Donald Trump for the attempt on his life. Now this video comes to us from our own D.C. bureau Chief, Tim Rice. He spoke to Steve Schmidt, who is the co founder of the Never Trump political pac, the Lincoln Project. And essentially, Schmidt blamed the President for the shooting, suggesting that it's his fault that people keep trying to kill him.

[Georgia Howe]

There's one person beyond and above all others who's responsible for poisoning the rhetoric in America. That guy's name is Donald Trump.

[Megan Basham]

His colleague at the Lincoln Project is Rick Wilson, who is a frequent commentator on msNow, formerly known as MSNBC. And he famously said back in 2015 that Donald Trump's political opponents need to, quote, put a bullet in him. Now, he said that he meant that figuratively. But within minutes last night, Wilson was ginning up conspiracy theories that the shooting was staged. But to close on a positive note here, Georgia, there have been reports from a number of the journalists who were in attendance saying that the President actually called them personally to check in on them and see that they were okay. And that included some journalists who are perceived as somewhat left leaning, including John Carl of ABC.

[Georgia Howe]

My phone rang shortly after 7am it was President Trump.

[Ryan Reynolds]

He said at first he was calling to see if I was okay with

[Megan Basham]

what happened last night. Are you okay? So the President there embodying the kind of change I think we all hope to see in our discourse.

[Announcer/Advertiser]

Well, a nice acknowledgment on his part. Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Megan Basham]

Anytime. Thanks, Georgia.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us. And for those listening to the show, you can also now watch the show free on Daily Wire. We'll be back this evening with more news. You need to know.