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By Joe Edwards
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Online profiles and archived social media posts that appear to be linked to Cole Tomas Allen, the California man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, trace a digital trail that shifts from video games and competitive tournaments to increasingly political content.
Prosecutors have not publicly identified a motive for the attempted assassination, and Newsweek has not independently verified every account attributed to Allen, but court filings, law enforcement statements and media reviews of publicly available posts are beginning to outline the suspect's background.
While the posts have drawn attention because of their political content, authorities have not publicly said whether they reflect Allen's motive. Allen has been charged by criminal complaint and has not been convicted. The allegations against him remain unproven in court.
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Newsweek contacted the Justice Department and an attorney listed for Allen for comment.
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The Charges Against Cole Tomas Allen
Allen was arraigned Monday on charges of attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the Department of Justice.
Officials said that around 8:40 p.m. on April 25, Allen approached a security checkpoint armed with a long gun during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, where the president, members of his Cabinet and other high-ranking government officials were in attendance.
Prosecutors said a shot struck an officer who was wearing a ballistic vest in the chest, and officers returned fire before the suspect was taken into custody with a 12‑gauge pump‑action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38‑caliber pistol.
Court documents said Allen traveled by train from his home near Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C., where he checked into the Washington Hilton on April 24. The documents added that he sent an email to family members and a former employer minutes before the shooting—signing off with "Cole 'coldForce' 'Friendly Federal Assassin' Allen."
Prosecutors released additional evidence this week, including images showing Allen with gear strapped to his body and details of the firearms, knives and ammunition authorities said he took to the correspondents' dinner.
"Had the defendant achieved his intended outcome, he would have brought about one of the darkest days in American history," Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones wrote in the filing.
Social Media Accounts Linked to Allen
On LinkedIn, Allen's profile described him as a game developer, scientist, engineer and teacher.
He attended the California Institute of Technology from 2013 to 2017, completing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, and he received a master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, according to the profile.
Archived X posts from an account handle that appeared to be used by Allen, which CNN reviewed, suggested he largely posted about video games in 2022. However, by 2024, the account was resharing political content, including posts comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler and advocating election nullification.
After the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, the X account reposted speculation that the episode was staged, including a message that suggested Trump could have faked an attempt on his life, according to the outlet's review.
Newsweek reviewed a Bluesky account using the "coldforce" handle and found biographical details similar to those reported in the case, but we have not independently confirmed that Allen controlled the account. Newsweek has contacted the Justice Department for confirmation.
In one Blusesky post, the account quoted Revelations 14 in response to a recent AI-generated image Trump posted of himself, which critics said depicted the president as Jesus. Trump said the image was intended to portray him as a doctor.
In another post, the account reacted to comments from Vice President JD Vance touting moves to reduce funding to Ukraine, remarking, "What a piece of s***."
Another post called the president "basically a psychopathic mob boss" in reference to the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Another Bluesky post described Trump as a villain.
One Bluesky post said: "The president of the United States is personally looting the treasury to the tune of literally billions of dollars and that he is not being immediately removed from office and tried for high crimes against this country is a devastating indictment of every part of our political system."
SFGate reported that Allen was active in Southern California's Super Smash Bros. tournament circles for several years, citing a competitive profile and tournament records it reviewed. Super Smash Bros. is a popular video game series by Nintendo.
What Happens Next
The Justice Department said on Monday that the FBI Washington Field Office and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case.
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