John Hinckley Jr., who wounded President Reagan at the Washington Hilton in 1981, criticized the hotel's security after an alleged gunman reportedly targeted President Trump at the same venue this weekend. Authorities say 31-year-old Cole Allen was detained after exchanging fire with security while trying to reach the ballroom where Trump and Cabinet members were attending. Media accounts and a Daily Beast editor described apparent lapses — including no luggage inspections or magnetometer checks — and called for a review of coordination between the hotel and protective agencies.
Hinckley Condemns 'Lax' Washington Hilton Security After Alleged Attack Near Trump
Mike Evans/Consolidated News Pictures/AFP via Getty Images
John Hinckley Jr., who wounded President Ronald Reagan and others in a 1981 assassination attempt at the Washington Hilton, has criticized apparent security failures at the same hotel after authorities say an alleged attacker targeted President Trump there this weekend.
White House Press Secretary James Brady and D.C. police officer Thomas Delahanty were among the wounded after Hinckley fired at President Reagan. / Courtesy Reagan Library/Handout via Reuters
Speaking to TMZ, Hinckley described the coincidence as "spooky" and urged the Hilton not to host high-profile events, saying the venue is "just not a secure place to hold big events" because "bad things keep happening." Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the March 30, 1981, attack and remained in psychiatric care until his supervised release in 2016.
A sign outside the Washington Hilton commemorates Hinckley’s 1981 attack on Reagan. / The Daily Beast
Authorities say 31-year-old Cole Allen was detained after an exchange of gunfire with security personnel while attempting to reach the ballroom where President Trump and several Cabinet members were attending a black-tie event. Officials are investigating how the suspect moved past checkpoints and gained proximity to guest rooms and corridors near the event.
The site of the memorial on Saturday morning—no security was on scene despite the shooting the night before. / The Daily Beast
Media reports indicate the Secret Service was tasked primarily with protecting the ballroom and its immediate perimeter for the event, leaving other hotel areas less tightly secured. That reported arrangement has renewed scrutiny of venue-level screening and coordination between the hotel and federal protective agents.
John Hinckley Jr. attempted a music career in the years after his release. / Ryan M. Kelly/AFP via Getty Images
Journalists at the scene raised concerns. Hugh Dougherty, Executive Editor of The Daily Beast, wrote that the security lapses were "jaw-dropping." Dougherty said a guest — reportedly the alleged suspect — checked into the hotel the day before the president's arrival and that staff did not inspect luggage. He added that other guests arriving shortly before the event encountered "no magnetometers, no hand checks, no I.D. checks. Nothing."
The suspect is facing charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. / Truth Social
"How on earth could someone with a disassembled long gun check into a room at a hotel where the president was going to speak? Nobody even looked at my luggage on Friday afternoon," Dougherty wrote.
The incident has prompted calls for a review of security protocols at venues that host senior political figures. The Daily Beast and other outlets have contacted the Hilton for comment on the reported failures and on any changes to the hotel’s security procedures.
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