The FBI is investigating what it described as another assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The incident happened on Sunday at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the former president was playing golf.
According to law enforcement, Secret Service agents spotted a man hiding in the bushes near the golf course with a rifle. Acting quickly, agents opened fire on the suspect, who then ran away but was later caught on a nearby highway.
Previous Attack on Trump
Trump has faced this types of incident before. In July, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Trump was shot by a gunman. Fortunately, he only suffered a minor injury to his ear. The FBI labeled this event as an assassination attempt as well.
History of Presidential Assassination Attempts
Throughout U.S. history, there have been at least 15 attempts to harm presidents, presidents-elect, or presidential candidates. Unfortunately, five of these incidents resulted in the deaths of the leaders involved.
Presidents Who Were Assassinated
- Abraham Lincoln (1865): Lincoln was killed by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.
- James Garfield (1881): Shot at a train station in Washington, Garfield passed away after battling his injuries for over two months.
- William McKinley (1901): McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist in Buffalo, New York.
- John F. Kennedy (1963): Kennedy was fatally shot by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas.
Leaders Who Survived Assassination Attempts
Four U.S. presidents have survived attempts on their lives, either during their presidency or after leaving office:
- Donald Trump: In July 2023, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Trump was shot in the ear but managed to escape with the help of security and was rushed to safety.
- Ronald Reagan: In 1981, Reagan was shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. He was injured when a bullet ricocheted off a limousine and hit him under his left armpit.
- Gerald Ford: Ford faced two separate assassination attempts within a span of three weeks in 1975, but he remained unharmed.
- Theodore Roosevelt: In 1912, while campaigning in Milwaukee, Roosevelt was shot in the chest. However, he continued his speech before seeking medical attention.
Other Leaders Targeted by Assassins
- Robert F. Kennedy: A U.S. senator and presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
- George C. Wallace: While running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972, Wallace was shot and left paralyzed from the waist down.
These tragic events serve as reminders of the challenges and risks that political figures often face. While some attempts end in success for the perpetrators, many have been thwarted by the brave actions of law enforcement and security officials.