Full Breakdown
Record Number of Assassination Attempts on Former President Donald Trump
5/3/2026, 7:50:30 AM
Core Event: Record Number of Attempts
Since 2016, former President Donald Trump has been the target of at least six documented assassination attempts, the highest count for any U.S. president, encompassing shootings, poison letters, and a vehicle-based plot.
Historical Context and Statistics
Attacks on U.S. presidents date to an 1835 attempt on Andrew Jackson; four presidents have been assassinated. DOJ data show Donald Trump has faced at least six attempts, surpassing Barack Obama’s five. The incidents include two shootings, three poison-letter schemes, and one vehicle-based plot.
Timeline of Documented Attempts (2016-2024)
- Jun 2016 – Michael Sandford (illegal immigrant) tried to shoot Trump at a Nevada rally; sentenced to 1 yr.
- Sep 2020 – Pascale Ferrier mailed a toxin-laden envelope to Trump and Texas officials; 22-yr sentence.
- 2018 – William Allen sent poison letters to Trump; charges dropped after mental-illness finding.
- Four months later – Gregory Leingang planned a forklift attack on Trump’s motorcade at a North Dakota refinery; pleaded guilty, imprisoned until 2038.
- Jul 2024 – Thomas Crooks fired from a rooftop at the Butler, PA rally, wounding Trump’s ear, killing Corey Comperatore, injuring two seniors.
- Sep 2024 – Cole Allen breached White House Correspondents’ Dinner security, shot a Secret Service agent (non-fatal).
- Sep 2024 – Ryan Routh arrested with a rifle near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course; sentenced to life without parole.
- Early 2024 – Austin Martin entered the Mar-a-Lago estate, raised a shotgun, and was fatally shot by law enforcement; motive unconfirmed.
Official Responses and Security Reforms
The Department of Justice warned that an attempted presidential murder could destabilize the federal government. After the Butler shooting, the Secret Service announced operational reforms, calling them the beginning of further changes. Congressional hearings prompted the resignation of former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, and six agents faced disciplinary action.
On-the-Ground Accounts
At the Butler rally, rifle fire struck Trump’s right ear, killed firefighter Corey Comperatore, and injured two seniors. At Mar-a-Lago, law-enforcement officers fatally shot Austin Martin after he raised a shotgun; his motive was not established.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Authorities have not classified William Allen’s 2018 poison letters as an assassination attempt because motive remains ambiguous. Thomas Crooks’ precise reasons for targeting Trump have not been disclosed, and Cole Allen’s alleged “traitor” writings have not been publicly verified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was, at its core, an anti-democratic act of political violence,” — Department of Justice, filing
- “The only regret I have is that it didn’t work and that I couldn’t stop Trump,” — Pascale Ferrier, sentencing hearing
- “The reforms made over this last year are just the beginning, and the agency will … make additional changes as needed,” — Secret Service spokesperson, 2025 statement
- “I don’t know how long I’ll be around. I got a lot of people gunning for me, don’t I, huh?” — Donald Trump, February 2024 White House address
Outlook
Congress continues to evaluate funding for advanced protective technologies, and the Secret Service has pledged ongoing reviews of security protocols for presidential events.
