A 31-year-old California man who opened fire outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday wrote a "manifesto" detailing plans to target Trump administration officials, according to statements by President Donald Trump and federal law enforcement officials, according to the Kentucky Lantern.

Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was arrested after allegedly firing multiple shots at the Washington Hilton during the event Saturday night. The incident immediately reignited debate over construction of a proposed $400 million White House ballroom project that has faced legal challenges from historic preservation advocates.

Trump told Fox News and CBS' "60 Minutes" that the manifesto revealed "hatred" for Christianity. "The guy is a sick guy," Trump said. "When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians. That's one thing for sure: He hates Christians." However, the New York Post reported that the document actually attempted to reconcile the planned attack with Christian teachings rather than mock the religion itself.

Allen, an educator and mechanical engineer from Caltech who earned a master's degree in computer science in 2025, traveled by train from Los Angeles to Washington, according to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He had checked into the Washington Hilton, the venue for the annual press gala, days before the attack, Blanche said on NBC News.

A Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire but protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Cabinet officials were safely evacuated. The event marked Trump's first attendance at the correspondents' dinner as president.

Blanche said the suspect did not appear to be cooperating with investigators and that many details remained unknown. He noted that authorities believed the shooter was targeting administration members but did not say it was specifically Trump.

Allen faces charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer. He is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Monday.

The shooting intensified calls for the White House ballroom project, which Trump said would never have allowed such an incident. "This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House," Trump posted on Truth Social. "It cannot be built fast enough!"

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is suing to block the project, citing concerns that the work bypassed required environmental reviews and historic preservation protections. On Sunday, the Justice Department sent a letter demanding the preservation group drop its lawsuit, citing the shooting as justification.

Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, and Republican senators including Tim Sheehy of Montana called for expediting the ballroom's construction. Sheehy said he would introduce legislation this week to accelerate the project, while Rep. Chip Roy of Texas proposed including ballroom funding in an upcoming Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.