Questions continue to swirl in the aftermath of the shooting that disrupted the White House Correspondentsâ Dinner, with leaders offering sharply different reactions as investigators work to piece together what happened.
According to Fox News, former President Barack Obama weighed in publicly, emphasizing that key details remain uncertain while urging a broader rejection of political violence.
âAlthough we donât yet have the details about the motives behind last nightâs shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, itâs incumbent upon all US to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,â Obama wrote on X. âItâs also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day.â
âIâm grateful to them â and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay,â he added.
Authorities say the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen of California, allegedly opened fire at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the annual event was being held.
Federal officials confirmed that after his arrest, Allen allegedly told investigators he intended to target members of the Trump administration.
Authorities also said he had prepared writings outlining his plans and posted anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on social media.
Investigators are reviewing those materials as part of an ongoing effort to determine what motivated the attack. Despite the details emerging from the suspectâs statements, law enforcement has not formally confirmed a definitive motive.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump pushed back forcefully when the alleged writings were brought up during a televised interview.
Appearing on 60 Minutes with Norah OâDonnell, Trump objected after passages from the suspectâs manifesto were read aloud.
âI was waiting for you to read that because I knew you wouldâŚyouâre horrible people,â Trump said.
âYou read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me,â he continued, adding he was exonerated.
The exchange grew more heated as Trump directly criticized the interviewer.
âIâm not any of those things,â he said. âYou should be ashamed of yourself reading that. You shouldnât be reading that on â60 Minutes.â Youâre a disgrace, but, go ahead, letâs finish the interview.â
As the investigation continues, officials have yet to offer a final conclusion about the suspectâs motive, leaving the incident under active review while political leaders respond in real time.