Thursday, July 23, 2026

Assassination Attempt: Trump, other U.S. presidential candidates, presidents shot

From the first incident in 1963 to the most recent on Saturday, there have been six different gun attacks on presidential candidates and presidents in the U.S.

• July 14, 2024
Secret service holding Trump to safety
Secret service holding Trump to safety

Saturday’s shooting at Donald Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania rally, marked yet another frightening moment in U.S. political history, adding to the lists of presidential candidates shot during campaigns.

From the first incident in 1963 to the most recent on Saturday, there have been six different gun attacks on presidential candidates and presidents in the United States of America.

2024: Donald Trump’s attempted assassination at Butler, Pennsylvania  

Midway into his speech at Butler, Pennsylvania, on June 13, sounds of gunshots erupted, triggering panic. A bullet ripped through Mr Trump’s ear, and one rally attendee was killed and another badly injured.

1981: Ronald Reagan’s shooting  

President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously injured by John Hinckley Jr. in Washington, D.C., who was trying to gain Jodie Foster’s attention.

1975: Two assassination attempts on Gerald Ford 

President Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts in 15 days, first by Lynette Fromme and then by Sara Jane Moore. Both were thwarted.

1972: George C. Wallace’s shooting 

Alabama Governor George C. Wallace was shot while campaigning in Washington, D.C. He was left partially paralysed and used a wheelchair until he died in 1998.

1963: John F. Kennedy’s assassination 

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas, shocking the nation and sparking numerous conspiracy theories.

1968: Robert F. Kennedy’s attempted assassination

Senator Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot after delivering his victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. 

2005: George W. Bush’s hand grenade attack

Bush was at a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 when a hand grenade was thrown toward him. The grenade, wrapped in cloth, did not explode. Mr Bush was behind a bulletproof barrier when the grenade landed about 100 feet away. 

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