Donald Trump was the target of what the FBI called an "attempted assassination" at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. This happened just nine weeks after another attempt on his life. 

In this article let's revisit some of the most notable examples of historical instances where US presidents and presidential candidates faced violent attacks. 

Abraham Lincoln 

placeholder
.
One of the most infamous assassinations in American history, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, while watching a play called 'Our American Cousin' at Ford's Theater in Washington. The attack occurred just days after the Confederate surrender in the Civil War. It was part of a larger plot that included attempts to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward.

James A. Garfield

President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau in Washington, D.C., in 1881. Garfield succumbed to his injuries after a long, painful struggle, making him the second U.S. president to be assassinated while in office.

William McKinley  

President McKinley was shot and killed by anarchist Leon Czolgosz in Buffalo, New York, in 1901. McKinley's death led to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who would later survive his own assassination attempt.

Theodore Roosevelt

placeholder
.
Like Trump, Teddy Roosevelt was running for the White House as a former president when he was shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The bullet, which remained lodged in his chest for the rest of his life, was slowed by the folded 50-page speech and steel eyeglass case in his breast pocket. Famously, Roosevelt decided to deliver his scheduled speech despite being shot.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 

placeholder
.
As president-elect, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the target of an assassination attempt in Miami, Florida. He was unharmed, but Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was killed in the attack. This incident underscored the ever-present risks faced by political figures, even before taking office.

John F. Kennedy

placeholder
.
Riding in his motorcade with his wife Jackie, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald. The Warren Commission investigating the assassination concluded in 1964 that Oswald, a former Marine who had lived in the Soviet Union, had acted alone.

Many Americans believe the death of JFK marked the beginning of a more violent period in US politics and society, with the Vietnam War build-up and the civil rights struggle as a backdrop.

Robert F. Kennedy 

placeholder
.
President John F. Kennedy's brother Robert, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination, was shot and killed at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The assassination had a profound impact on the 1968 presidential race and occurred just two months after the killing of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., adding to the political turmoil of the late 1960s.

George Wallace
While campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, George Wallace was shot four times and paralyzed for life at a shopping mall in Laurel, Maryland. The assassination attempt on Wallace, who was known for his segregationist views and populist appeal, highlighted the ongoing political tensions in the US and potential for domestic violence in the Vietnam War era.

Gerald Ford

placeholder
..
President Gerald Ford was left unscathed in two separate assassination attempts by women in September 1975, both in California and within a span of just 17 days. These incidents were stark reminders of the persistent threats faced by US leaders.

Ronald Reagan

placeholder
..
President Reagan was shot and seriously wounded as he left an event at the Hilton hotel in Washington. The attacker, John Hinckley Jr., was granted unconditional release in 2022. Reagan spent twelve days in the hospital, and the incident boosted his popularity as he displayed humor and resilience during his recovery.