Federal authorities are investigating a note written by the suspect in the White House correspondents' dinner attack, revealing he specifically targeted Trump administration officials. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, is in custody and expected to face charges on Monday. The approximately 1,000-word writing was obtained by law enforcement and shared with the New York Times by two officials who had not been authorized to disclose the information.

The writing explicitly lists "administration officials (not including Mr. Patel)" as prioritized targets, appearing to reference FBI Director Kash Patel. Secret Service agents were described as "targets only if necessary" while hotel employees and guests were marked "not targets at all." The note references being "no longer willing" to allow a "traitor to coat my hands with his crimes," an apparent reference to President Trump though his name does not appear.

Trump commented on the writing during a Fox News interview, calling it a "manifesto" and claiming the suspect "hates Christians." The note also includes extensive apologies to friends, students and family, while justifying the attack by citing reports of abuse in immigrant detention camps and lethal incidents abroad.