‘Best time to buy a gun… today’: Chilling online trail of suspect behind Trump dinner shooting

The social media activity of Cole Tomas Allen, the man charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump, revealed a shift over time from casual gaming posts to increasingly angry political messages.Allen, 31, allegedly stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner armed with guns and knives, triggering a chaotic scene in which shots were fired, Trump was rushed offstage, and guests took cover. He now faces charges including attempted assassination, transporting firearms across state lines, and discharging a weapon during a violent crime. He has not entered a plea.As authorities piece together what led to the attack, they are closely examining Allen’s online presence. Archived posts from accounts believed to belong to him suggest a gradual but clear change in tone and focus.Also read | Suspect Cole Allen charged with US president's attempted assassinationIn 2022, Allen’s posts were largely centered on video games. He frequently shared content related to Nintendo game Super Smash Bros. and promoted a YouTube channel featuring short gameplay videos.Archived posts from 2024, however, show him resharing messages critical of Trump, including comparisons of the president to Adolf Hitler and claims questioning election outcomes.After a previous assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Allen reshared posts that baselessly speculated the attack may have been staged.In one such repost, a user wrote, “Trump is ‘quite capable of having staged a fake assassination attempt on himself to trick the American public,’” a claim Allen reshared.Allen appeared to join the Bluesky platform in February 2025, a few weeks into Trump’s second term. There, he frequently criticized the administration and expressed frustration that more powerful figures were not taking action.“Everyone already knows trump is a f***ing awful person in multiple dimensions and no one has done sh*t,” the account wrote in April 2025.Some posts also encouraged gun ownership. In December 2025, the account wrote, “Best time to buy a gun was days ago,” adding, “second best time is today.”In March, another post read, “Put a traitor BACK in office, get treason like, I don’t understand why people are surprised by the US ripping itself apart,” followed by, “I’m pretty sure that’s the expected outcome of having a traitor at the helm.”Investigators say these online messages mirror the tone of a message Allen allegedly sent to family members before the incident, outlining plans to target officials and expressing anger at government actions. Authorities are also reviewing electronic devices seized during the investigation and are examining whether he had any connections to political groups, reported CNN.Despite the online rhetoric, people who interacted with Allen in person described a different side of him. A part-time tutor in Torrance, California, he was seen by students as intelligent and calm.“Everyone is shocked in Torrance about this whole situation,” said Dylan Wakayama, founder of a volunteer group whose students had worked with Allen.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators are probing possible links, while US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said additional charges could be filed.