On September 15, 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump narrowly survived a second assassination attempt, an event that once again underscored the grim reality of violence in American political life. His survival adds his name to the long and unsettling list of presidents and former presidents who have faced life-threatening attacks. These moments are not isolated—they form a disturbing pattern that stretches across the nation’s history, reminding Americans of the risks that come with occupying or even having occupied the highest office in the land.
Since the United States was founded, forty-five men have served as president. Startlingly, nearly 40 percent of them have faced assassination attempts. Four were fatally struck down while in office: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. Others were injured or narrowly spared by chance or the intervention of bystanders. Each attack tells a story of discontent, obsession, or personal grievance, but all serve as reminders that the presidency is not just a political role but a dangerous one.
Presidents, by the nature of their position, are more than individuals. They become symbols—living embodiments of the nation’s values, policies, and direction. Admiration from supporters comes with equal and opposite hostility from detractors.
For some, attacking a president or former president becomes a twisted way of making a statement or leaving a mark on history. Recent events involving Trump reflect this dangerous dynamic. In July 2024, he was injured in a shooting during a rally in Pennsylvania, an attack that sent shockwaves across the political spectrum. Just months later, while playing golf in Florida, his security team exchanged fire with an armed suspect in another attempt on his life. These incidents are modern echoes of a historical pattern where presidents repeatedly find themselves at the center of targeted violence.
Firearms have been the most common weapon in presidential assassination attempts. With few exceptions, almost every assailant throughout history has been male. Their motives, however, have varied widely. Some acted out of political anger or revolutionary zeal. Others were driven by delusions, personal vendettas, or misguided attempts at notoriety. In Trump’s case, what stands out is that both recent attackers were reportedly former supporters who had turned against him—an unusual twist compared to older historical examples where most assailants were ideological opponents rather than disillusioned followers.
History offers sobering lessons about how fragile leadership can be in the face of violence.
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 was not a lone act of hatred but part of a broader conspiracy. That same night, Secretary of State William Seward was stabbed in his own home, though he survived. Vice President Andrew Johnson was also targeted, though his attacker lost his nerve. The conspiracy aimed to decapitate the Union government in a single night, plunging the country into chaos at the end of the Civil War. The plan ultimately failed, but it underscored how the removal of a single figurehead could be perceived as a path to destabilization.
Later presidents faced their own brushes with death. Gerald Ford, for example, survived not one but two assassination attempts in 1975, both carried out by women—an anomaly in presidential history. The first, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, pointed a gun at Ford in Sacramento to protest environmental issues but failed to fire because she had not chambered a round. Just 17 days later, Sara Jane Moore fired two shots at Ford in San Francisco. One bystander, Oliver Sipple, acted heroically by deflecting her aim, saving Ford’s life and preventing what might have been another national tragedy.
Ronald Reagan, too, narrowly escaped death in 1981 when John Hinckley Jr. opened fire outside a Washington hotel. Reagan was hit by a ricocheted bullet that pierced his lung. What followed became part of Reagan’s enduring legend—his resilience, calm demeanor, and even his wit while recovering. His quip to surgeons, “I hope you’re Republicans,” captured the nation’s imagination and demonstrated how humor and strength can reassure a country even in its most vulnerable moments.
Trump’s recent experiences highlight how the threat has evolved in the modern era. Information travels faster than ever, ideological divides are amplified by digital platforms, and individuals motivated by disillusionment or conspiracy theories can radicalize quickly. Despite advanced security measures, the role remains perilous. The fact that a former president, still an active political figure,
has survived multiple attempts in such a short span of time illustrates both the resilience of protective institutions like the Secret Service and the persistent risks leaders face.
Assassination attempts are not simply attacks on individuals.
They represent challenges to democracy itself. Each time violence erupts, the country is forced to confront the fragility of its political system and the dangers of allowing anger, extremism, or despair to escalate into bloodshed. They reveal the tension between freedom of expression and the darker impulses of those who use violence to silence, punish, or destabilize.
Yet, history also shows the resilience of American democracy. While violence has scarred its timeline, the nation has continually rebounded. Institutions endure, successors step forward, and moments of unity often follow tragedy.
After each attempt, stories of heroism, solidarity, and perseverance emerge—whether it is a bystander tackling an assailant, medical teams working tirelessly to save lives, or communities rallying together in the wake of loss.
The story of assassination attempts on American presidents is one of both vulnerability and resilience. They remind us that those who step into positions of leadership accept not only the responsibility of governance but also the personal risks that come with embodying the nation itself. Trump’s survival in 2024 reinforces this sobering truth. While presidents and former presidents remain vulnerable to attack,
the American system—its people, its institutions, and its democratic ideals—has consistently shown the strength to withstand even its darkest moments.
