The recent attack on former United States President, Donald Trump, at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held at the Washington Hilton, has brought renewed attention to the history of violent attacks on American leaders.
Findings show that several US presidents have either been assassinated, injured, or targeted in assassination attempts over the years.
Abraham Lincoln
In 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated after being shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre. The attack occurred shortly after the end of the Civil War, making him the first US president to be killed in office.
James A. Garfield
James A. Garfield was shot in 1881 by Charles J. Guiteau at a Washington train station. Though he initially survived, he died two months later from infections arising from the gunshot wounds.
William McKinley
In 1901, William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. He later died from his injuries.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 during a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. He was fatally shot by Lee Harvey Oswald in one of the most widely reported killings in modern history.
Theodore Roosevelt
In 1912, former president Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest while campaigning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Despite the injury, he continued his speech before seeking medical attention.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously wounded in 1981 by John Hinckley Jr. outside a hotel in Washington, D.C., just weeks after assuming office. He survived after undergoing surgery.
Donald Trump
Former president Donald Trump was injured in 2024 during a shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident sparked widespread concern over political violence in the United States. The latest attack at the Washington Hilton has further heightened fears over his safety.
Andrew Jackson
In 1835, Andrew Jackson survived an assassination attempt when an attacker’s two pistols misfired, making him the first sitting US president to face such a threat.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt was targeted in 1933 in Miami, Florida, shortly before his inauguration. Though he was unharmed, Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was killed in the shooting.
Harry S. Truman
In 1950, Harry S. Truman was the target of an attack by two Puerto Rican nationalists at Blair House. He escaped unhurt, though a police officer lost his life in the exchange.
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts in 1975 in California. In both instances, the attackers failed to successfully fire their weapons.
George W. Bush
In 2005, George W. Bush escaped injury after a grenade was thrown at him during a speech in Tbilisi, Georgia. The explosive device, however, failed to detonate.
The spate of incidents, spanning nearly two centuries, underscores the persistent security challenges surrounding the US presidency and highlights the risks associated with political leadership in the country.
