The man arrested for trying to storm the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Cole Tomas Allen, may represent a new archetype: the mainstream liberal turned terrorist. Unlike previous attackers of Donald Trump, Allen's politics were decidedly ordinary. His social media posts reveal a dislike for ICE, support for Ukraine, and a desire for Trump's impeachment—views shared by many Americans. He even criticized pro-Palestine protesters and leftist streamers.
National Review and the Wall Street Journal editorial board have used Allen's attack to condemn Democratic opposition to Trump, claiming it fosters violence. Some journalists have echoed this, asking Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin if he'd rethink "heated rhetoric."
It's understandable why Republicans would leverage this incident. But the fact that Trump is truly harmful to the country remains. The attempted assassination cannot be used to silence criticism. Instead, it underscores that political violence is both wrong and self-defeating.
Allen's manifesto included hyperbolic accusations, such as labeling Trump a pedophile—a term that should be used with precision. Yet accurately describing Trump's actions will always seem provocative to some. The lesson is not to mute criticism but to reject violence as a response.