Just a few hours after the incident, the president shared a picture of the suspect, handcuffed and lying face down on the hotel floor where the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held.
The man has been identified by media, via police sources, as a 31-year-old private tutor from California.
A LinkedIn profile linked to the suspect describes the man as a “trained mechanical engineer and computer scientist” as well as a “game developer” and part-time teacher. It lists a bachelor’s degree from the California Institute of Technology. The university has confirmed that a person with the suspect’s name graduated in 2017.
Sent to family
Trump stated in a telephone interview with Fox News that the suspect had left behind a manifesto that the president described as "strongly anti-Christian."
"When you read his manifesto, it's clear that he hates Christians, that's for sure. He hates Christians, it's a real hatred," Trump said, adding that the man "had a lot of hate in his heart for quite a long time."
The gunman had sent the manifesto to his family members about ten minutes before he opened fire, according to The New York Post, which obtained the document through an anonymous US official. The man's brother reportedly handed it over to police.
In the manifesto, the man reveals that he was determined to kill people in the Trump administration "from the highest to the lowest."
The letter contains references to civilian casualties in the war against Iran, tougher measures against immigration and the scandal surrounding the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - without directly mentioning the president.
The letter begins with a strange “Hello everyone!” and is signed with a first name and the signature “Dear Federal Murderer.” In the letter, he also expresses surprise that he was able to get in armed.
“Anti-Trump”
Authorities have also discovered several posts on social media that are described as "anti-Trump."
The man's sister reportedly told police that the suspect had purchased several guns legally in California and stored them in his parents' home without their knowledge.
"My impression is that he was a lone wolf," Trump said at a press conference late Saturday.
The suspect - who was carrying two firearms and several knives during the incident - is set to stand trial on Monday, charged with weapons offenses and assault, according to authorities.
