On Saturday, former President Donald Trump was shot and injured in an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The shooter, a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired eight rounds, killing a spectator and critically injuring two others.
Trump was seen touching his ear as the shooting unfolded, and he was shielded by Secret Service agents and taken offstage with blood on his face. He later confirmed that a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear. The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism.
Here Are Some of the Most Famous Assassination Attempts on American Presidents Over History
After what happened with former President Trump, it is worth remembering some of the most famous assassination attempts on USA’s presidents.
Abraham Lincoln (1865)
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Booth’s motive was to revive the Confederate cause by eliminating the President. In this assassination attempt, Lincoln was shot in the back of the head and was taken to a nearby boarding house, where he died the following morning on April 15. Booth fled the scene but was later tracked down and killed by Union soldiers. Lincoln’s assassination shocked the nation and marked the first time a sitting U.S. president was assassinated.
William McKinley (1901)
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. In this assassination attempt, McKinley was greeting the public when Czolgosz approached and fired two shots at close range. Initially, McKinley seemed to recover, but his condition worsened due to infection, and he died on September 14, 1901. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him as President. Czolgosz was quickly apprehended, tried, and executed in October 1901. McKinley’s assassination led to increased security measures for future presidents.
Theodore Roosevelt (1912)
On October 14, 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt was shot by John Flammang Schrank, a saloonkeeper, while campaigning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In this assassination attempt, Schrank, who was mentally unstable, believed that Roosevelt’s bid for a third term was against American principles. Remarkably, the bullet was slowed by a steel eyeglass case and a folded 50-page speech in Roosevelt’s jacket, preventing a fatal injury. Despite being shot in the chest, Roosevelt insisted on delivering his scheduled speech, speaking for 90 minutes before seeking medical attention. He famously declared, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose,” referencing his Progressive “Bull Moose” Party. Roosevelt’s courage and resilience during the incident earned him widespread admiration.
Harry S. Truman (1950)
In 1950, there was an assassination attempt on President Harry S. Truman by two Puerto Rican nationalists, Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola. On November 1st, the attackers aimed to highlight the struggle for Puerto Rican independence. They targeted Blair House, where Truman was temporarily residing during White House renovations. Torresola fatally shot a police officer before being killed by other officers. Collazo was wounded and captured. Truman was unharmed, and the incident highlighted security concerns for U.S. presidents. Collazo’s death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, and he was eventually released in 1979.
John F. Kennedy (1963)
On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade with his wife Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally’s wife Nellie. As the motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza, shots were fired, and Kennedy was struck in the head and neck. He was pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital shortly after. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination but was killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby before he could stand trial. The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone, though the event has since been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. Kennedy’s assassination marked a significant and tragic moment in American history.
Ronald Reagan (1981)
On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. The incident occurred as Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel after giving a speech. In this assassination attempt, Hinckley fired six shots, hitting Reagan, press secretary James Brady, a police officer, and a Secret Service agent. Reagan was struck in the chest by a ricocheting bullet but recovered after emergency surgery. Hinckley, who claimed he was trying to impress actress Jodie Foster, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was institutionalized. The attempt led to increased security measures for U.S. presidents and significant changes in mental health laws.
