Threats and Assassination Attempts on Donald Trump
President Donald Trump has experienced frequent and serious threats, making him the most targeted U.S. leader, among both current and former presidents, in recent history. He has endured approximately one threat-related incident every two to three months over recent years. The total number of known threats against Trump since he first took office in 2017 is nearly 20.
By comparison, most other U.S. presidents faced only one assassination attempt, with the exception of President Gerald R. Ford, who survived two. Presidents targeted by assassins include Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Of these, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy lost their lives.
Attempted Assassinations on Trump
Since 2016, Trump has faced numerous assassination attempts. Notably, photos from such attempts during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee were displayed in July 2024.
Major Assassination Attempts
July 2024: At a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman shot from a rooftop, fatally injuring one spectator and critically wounding two others. The shooter also struck Trump in the upper ear before Secret Service neutralized him.
September 2024: During a golf outing in Florida, a gunman was discovered hiding near Trump’s location. He was arrested by Secret Service and received a life sentence.
April 2026: A White House Correspondents’ Dinner saw an armed individual breach security, shooting an officer. The suspect was captured.
Incidents During Trump’s First Campaign
Trump encountered security incidents starting in his first campaign in 2016.
March 2016: In Dayton, Ohio, a rally attendee attempted to rush the stage. He aimed to grab the microphone but did not intend harm. He got one year of probation.
June 2016: A British national attempted to seize a police officer’s gun at a rally in Las Vegas, expressing intent to kill Trump. He received a prison sentence of over a year.
November 2016: A Reno, Nevada rally was briefly halted after a suspected gun incident. No weapon was found, and the suspect was released.
Threats During First Presidency (2017-2021)
Trump faced several threats during his first term in office.
September 2017: In North Dakota, a suspect tried to use a forklift to disrupt Trump’s motorcade. He later received a sentence of time served.
October 2018: A Utah Navy veteran mailed ricin-laced letters meant for Trump and others. Deemed unable to assist in his defense, he avoided prison.
August 2020: A briefing at the White House saw Trump removed after a threat close to the building. The suspect was arrested for officer assault.
September 2020: Another ricin-laced letter was intercepted. The Canadian sender was sentenced to over 21 years in prison.
Second Campaign and Second Presidency
Trump’s second campaign and subsequent presidency saw further threats.
July 2024: Police foiled an overseas plot to harm Trump, organized for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The orchestrator was convicted in 2026.
November 2024: A further plot was unveiled, with the suspect eliminated in a U.S. operation.
Into Trump’s second presidency, more incidents arose.
May 2025: A Florida man claiming to plan Trump’s death was sentenced to over two years.
July 2025: Threats on social media preceded a Texas arrest. The suspect received a two-year sentence.
August 2025: Another arrest followed a TikTok threat against Trump. The suspect faced over three years in federal prison.
February 2026: At Mar-a-Lago, an armed intruder was killed as they breached security.
April 2026: Federal charges were brought against a man for violent threats. His comments had called for violence against Trump and others.
June 2026: An alleged terror plot involving drones targeting a White House event was stopped. Eight were indicted.
August 2026: Ahead of a fundraiser, another suspect was detained carrying prohibited items and fake credentials.