Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California — registered as an independent voter — faces two federal charges after opening fire in the lobby of the Washington Hilton, armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Allen faces charges of using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
American studies professor Tomasz Płudowski said the attacker likely had political motives or mental health problems.
"Instinctively, I feel this is probably not a person with conservative views", he told PAP. "Such attacks favor the victim — people identify with them and instinctively sympathize", he added, noting the July 2024 Pennsylvania shooting had helped Trump. "If it's going to help either side now, it will be him".
Political scientist Jacek Reginia-Zacharski of the University of Łódź agreed, saying he could not "imagine a scenario in which this hurts Trump". He noted, however, that the administration was not framing Trump as a near-assassination victim as aggressively as in 2024.
He also raised questions about Secret Service conduct, saying he was "somewhat surprised" that an agent appeared to jump away from the suspect rather than physically stopping him — though he cautioned that only seconds of footage had been released. He dismissed emerging theories that the incident was staged, saying the attacker was likely a "lone gunman".
Płudowski said security services "failed to prevent various items from being brought into the venue", despite responding quickly once shots were fired.
(jh)
Source: PAP