After Assassination Attempt at White House Correspondents’ Gala, Trump Interviewed on ’60 Minutes’

The attacker was thwarted before he entered the ballroom. He’ll be arraigned today (USA Today). Norah O’Donnell questioned Trump on political violence: Norah O’Donnell: Erika Kirk was there. The House Majority Leader Steve Scalise was there. Political violence has touched so many people in that room. Is there something that you as president can do? What can be done to change the trajectory? President Trump: Well, you know, you go back 20 years, 40 years, 100 years, 200 years, 500 years, it’s always been there. People are assassinated. People are injured. People are hurt. And I’m not sure that it’s any more now than there was. I do think that the hate speech of the Democrats much more so is– is very dangerous. I really think it’s very dangerous for the country. O’Donnel also queried Trump on his relationship with the press: Norah O’Donnell: You are committed to doing this event with the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s about freedom of the press. President Trump: I want them, because I don’t want to see it be canceled. I don’t want to have a crazy person– I think it’s really bad for a crazy person to be able to cancel something like this. There are great people in the press too I can name, but I don’t want to– I don’t want to embarrass your show. We have some great people in the press, some very fair people, and people that are just on my side. But for the most part, it’s a very liberal or very progressive– let’s use the word liberal. Liberal press. But– I was just really– I was really happy to see the– the– I don’t know how long it’ll last– the relationship, the friendship, the spirit after a very bad event took place (CBS).

A Pattern and a Warning Sign: The List of Assassination Attempts on President Trump Grows

It speaks to the evils of our age. The attempt on Trump’s life on Saturday night is the third plan that had been executed, with at least five more that were thwarted at earlier stages. To recap: Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024 when a shot hit Trump’ ear; West Palm Beach, Florida, September 15, 2026, Ryan Routh was hiding in the greens on Trump International Golf Club when his attempt on Trump’s life was thwarted. Then there were at least five other attempts that were thwarted or exposed before the plans neared the execution phase: In February of this year: Secret Service killed a 21-year-old with a shotgun who tried to breach Mar-a-lago; July of 2024, a Pakistani national was arrested on a murder-for-hire charge, working on behalf of Iran; September 2020, A dual French-Canadian citizen mailed Trump a letter containing Ricin; September 2017, a man stole a forklift and aimed it at the presidential limousine; June 2016, a British man tried to grab a police officer’s gun, attempting to kill Trump; March 2016, a man tried to rush the stage at a Trump event (he turned out not to be armed, but clearly meant to do Trump harm) (Axios, USA Today).

What Motivated the Attacker?

The suspect in Saturday’s attack released manifesto that makes it pretty clear: On to why I did any of this: I am a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes (Townhall). The suspects online profile and engagement was also very clearly hard left: The suspected White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, signal boosted posts on the left-wing social media platform Bluesky arguing that President Donald Trump should be “immediately removed from office and tried for high crimes” and criticizing a “Freedom of the Press” pocket square that many journalists donned at last night’s dinner as “a white flag that no one can read unless you pull it out and wave it in defeat,” a Washington Free Beacon review found, suggesting he thought a stronger message of opposition to the president was called for (Free Beacon). Los Angeles Times: 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 (Los Angeles Times). Scott Jennings: This guy’s obviously another of these left-wing lunatics who’s come to kill the president. Three assassination attempts on the president now. Charlie is dead. You have people on the left lionizing Luigi Mangione. Well, there’s a bar in Wisconsin….  You have polling showing a tolerance for political violence on the left. And I heard Hakeem Jeffrey say this week, “it’s maximum warfare all the time.” We have a violent streak on the left and a rhetoric problem on the left, and it must be acknowledged today (Jennings). A Wisconsin brewery offers free beers when Trump dies (PJ Media).

Facing Fresh Reminder of Political Violence, Democrats Continue to Leave DHS Unfunded

We’re at day 73 and counting of the partial government shudown (Shutdown). GOP Rep. James Comer is doing what he can: Rep. James Comer said Saturday’s security breach at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was a direct result of insufficient funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the U.S. Secret Service. As a result, the House Oversight Committee chairman has called for a briefing from the Secret Service to determine how suspected gunman Cole Allen quickly bypassed a checkpoint and open fire before being tackled…. The department has faced ongoing financial instability since February, when funding lapsed during a government shutdown triggered by a political stalemate. During such closures, many essential employees are still required to work without pay until a funding bill is passed, with back pay issued later once funding is restored (Fox News). You can imagine how maddening this is for our new Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin. On Friday—before the White House Correspondents’ event—Mullin warned how the New York Democrat Chuck Schumer disrespects law enforcement (Mullin) Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson: If Democrats refuse to fund @DHSgov, it’s time to rip the Band-Aid off and eliminate the filibuster for good — there’s not much left of it anyway (Johnson).

After Thwarted Attack at Correspondents’ Event, Trump Administration, GOP Press for White House Ballroom

Simply put: The Washington Hilton is difficult to secure. An event at the White House would be considerably safer. The DOJ is pressing the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop their lawsuit: Put simply, your lawsuit puts the Iives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk. I hope yesterday’s narrow miss will you finally realize the folly of a lawsuit that literally serves no purpose except to stop President no matter the cost. Enough is enough. Your client should voluntarily dismiss this frivolous lawsuit today in light of last night’s assassination attempt on President Trump (Blanche). GOP Reps Boebert (CO), Fine (FL) and GOP Sen. Sheehy are pushing legislation that looks to facilitate the ballroom (Boebert; Fine; Sheehy). Pen. Sen. Fetterman (D) is weighing in as well: That [hotel] venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these (Fetterman).

Kevin Warsh Now Has a Clear Path to Serve as Nation’s Next Fed Reserve Chairman

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (NC) had expressed his willingness to support Kevin Warsh, but was unwilling to do so if the Justice Department was continuing their legal threats against current Fed Chair Jay Powell. Financial Times: Republican Senator Thom Tillis will allow Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh to face a vote in the Senate, in a breakthrough for US President Donald Trump’s push to install his pick at the helm of the world’s most important central bank. Tillis’s decision comes after the Department of Justice said on Friday that it would drop its criminal investigation into Jay Powell over whether the current Fed chair misled Congress about a $2.5bn renovation of the central bank’s headquarters…. Tillis told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday morning that he had “assurances from the Department of Justice that the case is completely and fully settled”. Any DoJ appeal would only be used to “abrogate or change the ruling for administrative purposes” and “not as a basis to re-open the investigation”. Powell had already called on the inspector-general to investigate cost overruns at the project, which now stand at around $700mn, last summer (Financial Times). Tillis: With these assurances, I look forward to supporting Kevin Warsh’s confirmation. He is an outstanding nominee, and it is time for the Federal Reserve to move beyond this distraction and return its full attention to its mission (Tillis).

California Voter ID Measure Qualifies for Ballot for November

California state Rep. Carl DeMaio is chairman of Reform California, the group leading the effort. DeMaio: GREAT JOB to our hardworking conservative friends in California who have fought so valiantly for election integrity! This will be a game changer in the Golden State! (DeMaio). Ward Clark at RedState: In Washington, D.C., the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote and to provide an ID to actually vote, is languishing, stuck behind a procedural wall – the filibuster. But in California, of all places, a very similar initiative will be on the ballot in the 2026 fall election. Sufficient verified signatures in place; it’s official. Now, though, the real work begins…. Last February, CNN’s Harry Enten noted a poll that found 83 percent of Americans in favor of voter ID, including over 70 percent of Democrats. In October of 2025, a Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, revealed 70 percent of Americans either strongly support or somewhat support President Trump’s voter ID proposal; that includes 48 percent who strongly support. So, if anything, the support is steady or increasing. If this passes in California, it will be a game-changer, but it won’t come easy (RedState).

Trump Cancels Plans for US Team to Islamabad

President Trump on Saturday: I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians. Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their “leadership.” Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!! (Truth). Wall Street Journal: The deadlock over talks leaves Trump with uncomfortable choices. He can escalate the conflict, settle for the kind of deal he didn’t want or continue to use the blockade to bring pressure on Iran to compromise. Trump has appeared reluctant to return to fighting, potentially pulling the U.S. deeper into a conflict that he had wanted to end within four to six weeks. Keeping the blockade in place, while the Iranians prevent the Strait of Hormuz from opening, risks doing further damage to the global economy (Wall Street Journal).

Fighting Between Israel and Hezbollah Escalates, Putting Ceasefire in Doubt

Israelis in the north have never been happy with a ceasefire so long as Hezbollah continues to have their missiles aimed at them. Jerusalem Post: Hezbollah and Israel on Sunday both escalated their attacks and accusations over the other side violating the ceasefire. Leading into Sunday, the first dispute between the sides following the April 17 ceasefire was that Israel said that the ceasefire only applied North of the Litani River, but not within southern Lebanon. The IDF already controlled southern Lebanon and wanted to continue to destroy Hezbollah’s weapons stored in nearby villages as well as kill the terror group’s fighters if they remained in that area and refused to surrender. Since the ceasefire, the IDF had killed over 40 Hezbollah fighters, but almost all in southern Lebanon. In the broader scheme, Israel has also hoped to hold onto southern Lebanon for an extended period to help pressure Hezbollah into a process of disarming. In contrast, Hezbollah wanted the IDF to cease operations in southern Lebanon on the way to a more speedy withdrawal from the area back to within Israel’s borders…. Senior Israeli officials have told their American counterparts that if Hezbollah continues attacking IDF soldiers, Israel will be unable to maintain its current measured response, according to two sources familiar with the discussions (JPost).

US Eyes Suspending Spain From NATO

Rather than step back from NATO ourselves, why not further marginalize non-contributors and let them feel what it’s like outside of the protective umbrella of NATO and the U.S. military? Stars and Stripes: Suspending Spain from NATO is one option the U.S. is considering in its push to punish allies regarded as uncooperative in American military operations against Iran, according to a news report Friday that cited an internal Pentagon email…. Spain was singled out for punishment, with the idea of suspending the country from NATO being discussed at high levels inside the Pentagon, the news agency reported. President Donald Trump and others in his administration have criticized Spain for its refusal to allow bases in the country, such as the Navy’s hub in Rota, to be used for operations against Iran. The country also has denied the U.S. the right to use Spanish airspace for flight operations connected to the nearly two-month-old conflict…. It is not immediately clear how the United States could suspend or expel Spain from NATO, as no formal mechanism exists for doing so. While Article 13 in the Washington Treaty, NATO’s founding document, offers a way for a country to quit, the charter is silent on how to force out a member state that has fallen out of favor (Stripes).