Trump attack: security concerns and the attacker's 'manifesto'

Donald Trump told reporters that the bomber 'was nowhere near breaking down the doors of the hall' and that he had 'many weapons'. He described him as a"sick person", a "lone wolf".

"I have studied assassinations" and attacks against the "people who have the greatest impact", the president added,quoting Abraham Lincoln. "I'm sorry to say I'm honoured, but I've done a lot". The president also joked that if he had known how dangerous the presidency was, "maybe he wouldn't have run." On Truth he went on to say that what happened "is exactly why our great armed forces, the Secret Service, law enforcement, and, for various reasons, every president for the last 150 years, have insisted that a large, safe and secure Ballroom be built inside the White House."

The New York Post, citing sources, reports that the attacker allegedly sent a manifesto against Trump to his family members about 10 minutes before opening fire, in which he called himself a "kind federal murderer". "Turning the other cheek is needed when one is personally oppressed. I am not a violent person in a detention camp. I am not the teenager abused by the many criminals in the administration. Turning the other cheek when it is someone else who is oppressed is not Christian behaviour, it is complicity to the crimes of the oppressor, the manifesto reads. And again: "I am no longer willing to allow a paedophile, rapist and traitor to stain my hands with his crimes".

The White House told Cnn thatAllen's family members, after receiving the note, forwarded it to the police minutes before the attempted attack. The brother, in particular, reportedly informed the Police Department of New London, Connecticut. The department, which, at the moment, would not make a statement, specifying that it would provide a release later in the day.

Allen will face two firearms-related charges, including assault on an officer with a dangerous weapon.

Allen then joked about the 'crazy' lack of security at the event, explaining thatIranian agents could have introduced a far more devastating arsenal. "No one would have noticed. What I noticed upon entering the hotel was the sense of arrogance. The security was all outside, focused on the protesters. Apparently no one thought about what could happen if someone checked in the day before. In short, an insane level of incompetence that I hope will be rectified by the time this country has competent leadership'.

According to Adnkronos, stringent controls with metal detectors and area isolation had been set up outside for the event, but access from inside the hotel may have been a vulnerability. This is now the focus of operational checks by federal authorities.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity, emphasising that political violence 'has no place in our democracies'. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke of an "attack on free and open societies", while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated that decisions are made by majority vote and not with weapons. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the democratic confrontation "with ideas" and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned political fanaticism. Similar messages came from the president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer renewed in a direct phone call to Trump his 'relief' that the US president and first lady Melania had emerged 'safe and sound' from the shooting. Downing Street reported this, pointing out that Starmer called the images of the attempted ambush 'shocking' and wished the wounded Secret Service agent 'a speedy recovery'.

The two leaders, on the eve of theofficial visit scheduled to begin tomorrow in the US by King Charles III (as British head of state) and Queen Camilla, also spoke of the situation in the "Middle East, against the backdrop of the ceasefire following the war between the US and Israel on the one side and Iran on the other, reiterating "the urgent need for the resumption of transits through the Strait of Hormuz" in light of the "serious consequences" that the restrictions on commercial shipping cause "to the global economy and the cost of living for the people of the UK" and the rest of the world.

Asked by Fox News about the possibility that plans on the arrival of the British royals had changed in light of last night's shooting, the president replied: 'There are a lot of little points at stake. Charles III will come, he is a great man and I am looking forward to meeting him". According to the BBC,the security measures will be strengthened. Presumably, this will mean rearranging the times when Charles and Camilla will be visible to the public.

"She (Melania Trump, the first lady, ed.) is fine. I'm fine. And it was a very sad evening in many ways. And it was also an evening where a lot of people came together,' the US president said in a telephone interview with Fox News. He went on to praise law enforcement and the Secret Service: 'And the Secret Service and all law enforcement, in my opinion, was exceptional, you know? You can always find the hair in the egg about everything else, but they were exceptional. They stopped it out of the blue. And there were no tricks, I can assure you. They were strong people with integrity who must be paid.

This is the third time since 2024 that Donald Trump has been threatened by an assailant in his vicinity, including the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, that injured him and caused the death of a firefighter. FBI Director Kash Patel reported that investigators are examining a long gun and shell casings recovered at the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses and inviting anyone with information to come forward.