Trump Faces Multiple Threats and Assassination Attempts

President Donald Trump holds the record as the most targeted leader in U.S. history among both current and former presidents. Over recent years, he encountered threat-related incidents approximately every two to three months. He survived three significant assassination attempts and close to a dozen other threats over the past two years. Since taking office in 2017, nearly 20 known threats have targeted Trump.

By contrast, other U.S. presidents faced less frequent attempts. Except for President Gerald R. Ford, who survived two, every other president targeted in an assassination attempt faced just one. This includes presidents like Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and so forth, with Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy tragically losing their lives.

Major Assassination Attempts

In July 2024, the first notable attempt on Trump’s life occurred during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A gunman fired from a rooftop, resulting in the death of one spectator and critical injuries to two others. Before being shot by a Secret Service sniper, the shooter managed to strike Trump in the upper right ear. The assailant was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Two months later, in September 2024, agents detected a gunman hiding with a rifle near Trump’s Florida golf course while Trump was golfing. Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect, was apprehended and received a life sentence.

Another serious breach occurred in April 2026 during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The suspect, Cole Allen, allegedly charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, shot an officer, and was eventually detained.

First Presidential Campaign Trail

During Trump’s 2016 campaign, three security incidents occurred before he assumed office.

In March 2016, during a rally in Dayton, Ohio, an attendee attempted to rush the stage. The individual, Thomas DiMassimo, expressed a desire to grab the microphone and shout accusations of racism. He faced a sentence of one year of probation.

In June 2016, a British national tried to take a police officer’s handgun during a rally in Las Vegas. The suspect, Michael Steven Sandford, intended harm to Trump and was sentenced to a bit over a year in prison.

In November 2016, a rally in Reno, Nevada, saw Trump briefly escorted off the stage following a false alarm. Austyn Crites, the attendee, held a sign opposing Trump but did not possess any weapon.

First Presidency (2017-2021)

Five significant incidents marked Trump’s presidency between 2017 and 2021.

In September 2017, Gregory Lee Leingang attempted to overturn Trump’s motorcade with a stolen forklift in North Dakota. He pleaded guilty and received time served and a year of supervision.

October 2018 saw ricin-laced letters sent to Trump. The Navy veteran William Clyde Allen III faced charges but was later deemed incompetent for trial.

In August 2020, Trump was removed from a briefing after a man threatened nearby. Myron Basil Berryman had no weapon and was later detained.

In September 2020, Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier sent ricin-laced letters to Trump, leading to more than two decades of imprisonment.

Second Presidential Campaign Trail

During the 2024 campaign, Trump encountered two assassination attempts and two additional threats.

July 2024 involved the arrest of a Pakistani national, Asif Merchant, tied to a murder-for-hire plot. Later, in November 2024, Farhad Shakeri faced allegations of planning a similar plot on behalf of Iranian officials.

Second Presidency (2025-Present)

During his second presidency, Trump dealt with seven further threat-related incidents and another assassination attempt.

In May 2025, Christopher Davies threatened Trump with assassination. He was sentenced to over two years in prison.

Authorities arrested Robert Herrera in July 2025 for social media threats, leading to a two-year imprisonment. Similarly, in August 2025, Jauan Rashun Porter faced arrest for making threatening comments on TikTok, resulting in a three-year sentence.

February 2026 involved a fatal shooting of Austin Tucker Martin at Mar-a-Lago. In April, Kadrioan Serainity Santiago was charged for politically violent threats on Instagram, including against Trump.

In June 2026, officials uncovered a terrorism conspiracy targeting Trump’s UFC event at the White House, leading to the indictment of eight people.

In August 2026, Jeanine John Taele was arrested for suspicious activities near a fundraiser. Authorities found weapons and a fake badge.