It was a quiet September day in 2024 when the unthinkable nearly happened once again: former President Donald Trump survived a second assassination attempt. News of the incident sent shockwaves across the nation and the world, reigniting discussions about the dangers faced by American presidents and the persistent reality of political violence.
But Trump’s near miss is not an isolated episode. In fact, assassination attempts—successful or not—have been an ongoing part of American history. From Abraham Lincoln in 1865 to Ronald Reagan in 1981, presidents have repeatedly found themselves in the crosshairs of violence. What drives these attacks, and why has the presidency been such a frequent target?
This article explores the long and troubling history of presidential assassination attempts, how motivations have shifted over time, and what these incidents reveal about the fragility—and resilience—of American democracy.
The September 2024 Attempts: A Modern Echo of a Dark Tradition
On September 15, 2024, Donald Trump narrowly escaped harm at his Florida golf course. According to reports, Secret Service agents engaged in a gunfire exchange with an armed suspect before neutralizing the threat. This attempt came just months after another shooting during a Pennsylvania rally, where Trump was grazed and several attendees were injured.
These two incidents mark Trump as one of the few U.S. presidents or former presidents to face multiple assassination attempts. They also echo a grim tradition: out of 45 men who have served as president, nearly 40% have been targeted. Four—Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy—were tragically assassinated while in office.
Why Presidents Become Targets
The presidency is not just a political position—it is a national symbol. Presidents embody the nation’s identity, policies, and values. For admirers, they become larger-than-life figures of inspiration. For opponents, they can represent frustration, anger, or perceived betrayal.
Throughout history, assassination attempts have been motivated by different forces:
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Political motives: Disrupting policies or altering the nation’s direction.
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Personal grievances: Former allies turning into enemies, as in Trump’s case where both assailants were reportedly disillusioned ex-supporters.
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Mental illness and delusion: Some attackers, like John Hinckley Jr., acted under bizarre personal obsessions.
In every case, the president’s symbolic role made them a lightning rod for attention—sometimes tragically so.
A Look Back: The Long History of Assassination Attempts
Abraham Lincoln (1865): A Conspiracy to Shatter the Union
Lincoln’s assassination remains one of the most infamous acts of political violence in history. On April 14, 1865, just days after the Civil War ended, actor John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre.
But the plan was larger than Lincoln alone. Booth and his co-conspirators plotted to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward on the same night. Seward was stabbed but survived; Johnson’s would-be assassin lost his nerve. The conspiracy underscored the catastrophic potential of political violence—a reminder that resonates to this day.
James A. Garfield (1881): A Grudge Turned Deadly
President Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office-seeker who believed he had been unfairly denied a government position. Garfield lingered for 79 days before succumbing to infection. His death illustrated the dangers of political patronage and spurred calls for civil service reform.
William McKinley (1901): Anarchist Rage
At the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, McKinley was fatally shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist who viewed the president as a symbol of oppression. McKinley’s assassination pushed Theodore Roosevelt into office and reminded the nation that ideological extremism could manifest violently.
John F. Kennedy (1963): A Nation in Mourning
Perhaps the most shocking presidential assassination of the 20th century, Kennedy’s death in Dallas traumatized the nation. Lee Harvey Oswald’s motivations remain debated, with theories ranging from pro-Communist sympathies to personal frustrations. Kennedy’s assassination reshaped American security practices and intensified public distrust of official narratives.
Gerald Ford (1975): Twice Targeted in Seventeen Days
In an extraordinary sequence, President Ford survived two assassination attempts in less than three weeks.
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Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a former follower of Charles Manson, pointed a gun at Ford in Sacramento. Luckily, her firearm was not chambered.
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Seventeen days later, Sara Jane Moore fired two shots at Ford in San Francisco. A bystander, Oliver Sipple, bravely intervened, deflecting one bullet and saving the president’s life.
These episodes highlighted not only the vulnerability of presidents but also the courage of ordinary citizens.
Ronald Reagan (1981): Humor in the Face of Violence
On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan outside a Washington, D.C., hotel, hoping to impress actress Jodie Foster. A ricocheted bullet punctured Reagan’s lung, coming dangerously close to his heart.
Despite the seriousness of his injuries, Reagan’s resilience and humor during recovery won widespread admiration. His famous quip—“Honey, I forgot to duck”—showed the human side of leadership under attack.
Weapons, Motives, and Patterns
Across history, firearms have overwhelmingly been the weapon of choice in presidential attacks. With the exception of Ford’s two female assailants, nearly every attacker has been male.
The motives, however, are diverse:
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Revenge and disillusionment (Guiteau, Trump’s modern assailants).
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Ideological extremism (Czolgosz, Booth).
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Personal delusions (Hinckley).
This mix of grievances and fantasies makes predicting and preventing attacks extremely difficult, even with modern security.
Modern Challenges for Presidential Security
The Trump incidents in 2024 reveal new dynamics in presidential security:
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Mass communication makes it easier for attackers to broadcast threats or justify their actions.
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Ideological polarization intensifies hostility toward political figures.
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Easy access to firearms ensures attackers remain well-armed.
Despite layers of protection, from armored vehicles to Secret Service countermeasures, presidents remain vulnerable in public settings. Events like rallies and golf outings—designed to showcase accessibility—also expose leaders to higher risks.
The Resilience of Democracy
Each assassination attempt, whether successful or not, is a stress test for American democracy. Yet time and again, the nation has responded not with collapse but with resilience:
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After Lincoln’s assassination, the Union endured Reconstruction.
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Following McKinley’s death, the presidency modernized under Roosevelt.
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After Kennedy’s loss, the nation united in grief and reflection.
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Even in the face of modern threats, institutions have adapted, tightened security, and carried forward.
These patterns reveal both the fragility and the strength of democracy: leaders may fall, but the system endures.
Conclusion: A Danger That Persists
Donald Trump’s recent experiences remind us that assassination attempts are not relics of the past. They remain a present danger, fueled by anger, ideology, and opportunity.
The presidency, as the embodiment of American leadership, will always attract both loyalty and hostility. And as history shows, threats to presidents are also threats to democracy itself.
Yet in each dark moment, resilience has followed. Whether through acts of heroism, institutional adaptation, or national unity, the United States has shown the capacity to withstand political violence.
The story of presidential assassination attempts is therefore not just a chronicle of tragedy—it is also a testament to endurance. While attacks may continue, so too does the nation’s determination to safeguard its leaders and its democratic ideals.