By Habeeb Ibrahim
Saturday’s shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, added another chapter to U.S. political history, joining a long list of incidents involving presidential candidates.
Since 1865, there have been several gun attacks on presidential candidates and presidents in the United States, with the most recent occurring in 2024.
Donald Trump, Presidential candidate:
During a rally on July 13, 2024, gunshots were fired in the middle of Trump’s speech, causing panic. Trump was grazed by a bullet on his ear. One attendee died, and another was seriously injured.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President:
Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Despite efforts to save him, he died the next morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson became president.
James Garfield, the 20th President:
Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, at a train station in Washington, D.C. He died in September from complications. Vice President Chester Arthur took over.
William McKinley, the 25th President:
McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901, while speaking in Buffalo, New York. He died on September 14 due to infection. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President:
In February 1933, President-elect Roosevelt escaped an assassination attempt in Miami. The attacker, Giuseppe Zangara, killed the Mayor of Chicago instead and was sentenced to death.
Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President:
In November 1950, Truman survived an attack at Blair House in Washington, D.C. One of the attackers was sentenced to death, but President Jimmy Carter later commuted the sentence.
John F. Kennedy, the 35th President:
Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested but was killed two days later by Jack Ruby. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became president.
Gerald Ford, the 38th President:
Ford faced two assassination attempts in September 1975. Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and Sara Jane Moore tried to kill him but failed.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President:
Reagan survived an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981, in Washington, D.C. The attacker, John Hinckley Jr., was found not guilty by reason of insanity and confined to a mental hospital until 2022.
George W. Bush, the 43rd President:
In May 2005, Bush narrowly escaped harm when a hand grenade was thrown at him during a rally in Tbilisi, Georgia. The grenade did not explode, and the attacker was sentenced to life in prison.
Theodore Roosevelt, Presidential Candidate:
In 1912, Roosevelt was shot during a campaign speech in Milwaukee. He survived because the bullet was slowed by his folded speech and a glasses case. The attacker, John Schrank, was confined to a mental hospital.
Robert F. Kennedy, Presidential Candidate:
Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles after a primary victory speech. The shooter, Sirhan Sirhan, was sentenced to life in prison.
George C. Wallace, Presidential Candidate:
Governor George C. Wallace was shot and paralyzed during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972. The attacker, Arthur Bremer, was imprisoned and released in 2007.
Barack Obama, the 44th President:
In November 2011, Obama narrowly avoided an assassination attempt when Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez fired shots at the White House. Ortega-Hernandez was arrested and sentenced for his actions.
