BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MoNDAY APRIL 27, 2026) — Fortunately for Donald Trump and America, third time was NOT the charm. Heavily armed Cole Allen, a teacher at a testing institute in California, made like Usain Bolt, sprinted his way past the check in desk, and got off two shots before security subdued him. One of the shots hit a police officer, who fortunately had on a flak jacket and did not die.

As Allen’s manifesto makes clear, he was after Trump, VP Vance, Marco Rubio, and on down, as far as he could get. Great work by security teams made sure he didn’t get into the ballroom, which was about to begin with the White House correspondent’s dinner.

What strikes THE PLANET about all this? First, how “routine” this type of political violence has become. The extremes of left and right have taken over what passes for discourse, and for too many, the “dialog” consists of guns and violence as much as protest signs. Second, moments after Trump and Melania were hustled off by Secret Service, the president gave an impromptu news conference. He showed remarkable cool and spoke in measured tones about the event, praising security, describing the dangers of being high profile in the public arena, and — so unlike other presidents, who never engage in improv with the press — took question after question.

Trump looked every bit a Leader, 100% presidential, a rock of stability in the after-moments of chaos. Love hi or hate him, you have to give him that.

———- ooo ———-

From the wires:

The attack marks the latest in a string of security threats against Trump since 2024 and is likely to intensify scrutiny over security protocols at major public events involving the president. It is also likely to renew conversations about rising political violence in the U.S.

Trump was asked whether he knew that Allen’s brother had notified New London Police Department about the alleged manifesto he had sent to his family members prior to the incident. Trump said he “heard” about it and wished “they would have told us about it a little bit.”

The manifesto allegedly written by the suspect called himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and that he was targeted Trump administration officials “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” according to a report.

The manifesto was obtained by the New York Post. Two federal sources confirmed to The London Times that the document was being investigated by the FBI.

The Post quoted portions of the manifesto.

“Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person raped in a detention camp. I’m not the fisherman executed without trial,” it said. “I’m not a schoolkid blown up, or a child starved, or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.”

“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” the document said.

———- ooo ———-

French President Emmanuel Macron called the incident “unacceptable,” writing that “violence has no place in a democracy” while expressing “full support” for Trump.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed that sentiment, warning against political extremism.

“No political hatred can find space in our democracies,” she said, adding that democratic nations must not allow “fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “relieved” Trump, the first lady and Vice President JD Vance were safe, stressing that violence “must be unequivocally condemned.”

Leaders across Europe struck a similar tone. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “shocked by the scenes,” calling the attack one that must be “condemned in the strongest possible terms,” particularly given it targeted a high-profile democratic event.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was “appalled,” adding that democracies must “stand together against political violence.”

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte framed the incident as a broader threat to democratic systems, calling it “an attack on our free and open societies” and reaffirming solidarity with the United States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as an “attempted assassination,” though U.S. authorities have not publicly characterized it as such, saying he and his wife were “shocked” while praising U.S. security forces for their “swift and decisive action.” He also wished a speedy recovery to a police officer who was shot in a bullet-resistant vest during the confrontation.

The political climate in America has tipped the balance between security and freedom in favor of the former. As Trump pointed out, however, there’s no amount of security that can prevent a person bent on terror from pursuing it. THE PLANET can only join with others who condemn the actions of idiots like Cole Allen.

——————————————————————-

‘Bullets over ballets? Bollocks!” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

Copyright (c) 2026 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.