Donald Trump has officially survived four confirmed assassination attempts since entering the political arena—but according to law enforcement reports, the true number may be closer to 11.
Historically, four U.S. presidents—Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy—have been assassinated while in office. Many others, including Trump, have narrowly escaped attempts on their lives.
As the current sitting president, Trump, 79, has faced multiple threats, particularly in recent years. In 2024 alone, he was targeted twice—once during a rally in Pennsylvania and again on a Florida golf course. Here’s a breakdown of all the known—and lesser-known—attempts on his life:
✅ Confirmed Assassination Attempts
2016: Gun Grab at Las Vegas Rally
- Who: Michael Steve Sandford, 20, a UK citizen.
- What: Tried to steal a police officer’s gun during a Trump campaign speech at Treasure Island Hotel.
- Outcome: Sentenced to 12 months in U.S. jail, deported in 2017.
2017: Forklift Attack Plan in North Dakota
- Who: Gregory Lee Leingang.
- What: Stole a forklift to ram Trump’s motorcade, intending to “flip the limo and kill the president.”
- Outcome: Sentenced to 10 years for arson and two additional five-year terms for burglary and vehicle theft.
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2024: Pennsylvania Rally Shooting
- Who: Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20.
- What: Opened fire during a Trump rally in Butler, grazing the president’s ear and killing a bystander.
- Outcome: Six Secret Service officers suspended for “preventable” security lapses.
2024: Armed Intruder at Trump Golf Club
- Who: Ryan Wesley Routh.
- What: Armed with a rifle, he entered Trump International Golf Club in Florida during the campaign. Was spotted before he could act.
- Outcome: Pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges; trial set for Sept. 8. He plans to represent himself in court.
❗ Unconfirmed or Indirect Threats
2016: Stage Rush in Dayton, Ohio
- Who: Thomas DiMassimo.
- What: Charged the stage at a Trump rally.
- Outcome: Tackled by Secret Service, sentenced to probation. Not deemed a formal assassination attempt.
2018 & 2020: Ricin-Laced Letters
- 2018: Navy veteran William Clyde Allen III arrested for sending ricin to Trump and Pentagon officials. Charges later dropped.
- 2020: Dual Canadian-French citizen Pascale Ferrier sent ricin to the White House. Sentenced to 22 years in prison.
2020: Briefing Room Evacuation
- What: Trump was escorted mid-briefing after a man with a gun was shot outside the White House.
- Outcome: Secret Service later confirmed Trump was never in direct danger.
2020: Trump on a ‘Kill List’
- Who: Barry Croft Jr., later convicted in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
- What: Trump was reportedly on a Facebook “kill list” that included other politicians.
- Outcome: Croft sentenced to 19.5 years in federal prison.
2024: Armed Man at Coachella Rally
- Who: Unnamed 49-year-old Las Vegas man.
- What: Arrested outside a Trump rally with a shotgun, handgun, ammo, and fake passports in a vehicle with a homemade plate.
- Outcome: Released on bail. Trump had not yet arrived at the rally when he was taken into custody.
While only a few of these incidents have been formally labeled as assassination attempts, the Secret Service and federal authorities have acknowledged that the president remains a high-risk target. The 2024 Pennsylvania rally shooting, which left one person dead and Trump injured, has become a symbol of both the escalating political violence in the U.S. and what critics call systemic security failures.
With the 2024 campaign season behind him and tensions still high at home and abroad, these threats—whether known or unconfirmed—paint a stark picture of the risks facing America’s most high-profile political figure.
