They are becoming depressingly common, these attacks on President Donald Trump’s life. This nation was born of bloodshed and has been deeply divided at times throughout its 250-year history. But after three attempts on Mr. Trump’s life in the past two years, we seem to have entered new territory.
Information trickled out Sunday about the man suspected of firing shots at the White House correspondents dinner Saturday night, attended by Mr. Trump and members of his Cabinet. Law enforcement sources told The Associated Press that the shooter “clearly stated he wanted to target administration officials.”
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Terrance, California. Video shows him crashing through security at the event. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen, who was armed with a handgun, shotgun and numerous knives, “got off a few shots” before being subdued prior to entering the ballroom.
Mr. Trump, six of his Cabinet secretaries, the first lady, vice president and FBI director were quickly escorted from the chaos unharmed. One law enforcement official was hit by fire but survived, thankfully, likely due to his bullet-proof vest. Secret Service agents and police on the scene deserve the nation’s thanks for preventing more carnage and quickly capturing the alleged perpetrator.
Initial accounts indicated that Allen had taken a train from California to Washington, D.C., via Chicago and was staying at the Washington Hilton, the scene of the correspondents dinner — and also the scene of John Hinckley’s attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. The Associated Press reported that the suspect was a teacher and video game developer who recently earned a master’s degree from Cal-State Dominguez Hills.
Reports also reveal that law enforcement officials believe the attack was politically motivated. The AP reported that Allen sent writings to family members just prior to the incident, referring to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and expressing numerous grievances against the president. He also apparently had a history of anti-Trump social media posts.
Mr. Trump, for his part, seemed to shrug off the attack as part of the job. “When you’re impactful,” he said, “they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone.” The president called the suspect a “sick person.”
Mr. Trump is an outspoken and polarizing figure who brings out the worst in his political opponents. In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, politicians of all sides issued the usual statements decrying violence and extolling the virtues of tolerance and respectful debate. But it’s past time for the country’s leaders to offer more than trite verbal platitudes and to embrace real efforts to cool the rising temperatures warping today’s political climate.
