The recent twin assassination attempts against former U.S. President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump highlight the tense political atmosphere in the world’s oldest liberal democracy. Some might speculate about a possible conspiracy—something the real estate magnate is often associated with. However, American political history tells us more.

When looking at the facts without falling into conspiracy theories, particularly those claiming the Republicans orchestrated these attempts to « sell » their candidate, it becomes evident that political violence has long been embedded in the American political landscape. Many would argue that violence is a significant component of U.S. political culture and, by extension, the entire Americas. This perspective is even more credible considering the political and social climate in Latin American countries like Colombia, Bolivia, Communist Cuba, Venezuela, and Peru. Viewed through this lens, violence appears almost inseparable from political life.

From George Washington in 1789 to Joe Biden in 2024, four out of the 46 U.S. presidents have been assassinated while in office. This article will focus solely on successful assassination plots, specifically those directly targeting a sitting president.

Abraham Lincoln: A Crime in the Shadow of the American Civil War

On April 14, 1865, the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth, a young intelligence officer, playwright, actor, and fervent white supremacist who supported the South in its armed rebellion against the North. With the South’s defeat seemingly inevitable, Booth sought to destabilize the Northern administration, intending to kidnap Lincoln to force the North into negotiations that would recognize the Southern secession.

However, Lincoln’s abolitionist policies and his desire to grant voting rights to African Americans led Booth to abandon his kidnapping plan in favor of assassination. The complexity of capturing a sitting U.S. president also factored into this decision.

Upon learning of Lincoln’s planned attendance at Ford’s Theatre with his wife, Mary, Booth seized the opportunity. Using his actor credentials to gain access to the venue, he fatally shot Lincoln in the head on the night of April 14. Lincoln succumbed to his injuries the following morning at age 56. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumed office, thwarting Booth’s plan to paralyze the federal government. Booth was caught and brought to justice shortly after.

James Garfield: The Lone Wolf Victim

Sixteen years after Lincoln’s assassination, on July 2, 1881, the 20th U.S. president, James Garfield, was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. Garfield, known for frequently traveling without security detail, fell victim to Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled lawyer who had been denied a consular position.

Unlike Booth, Guiteau had no ideological motives. His crime was a personal vendetta stemming from professional rejection. After stalking Garfield for days, Guiteau shot him twice, with one bullet grazing Garfield’s shoulder and the other lodging in his pancreas. Garfield survived the initial attack but died 11 weeks later on September 19, 1881. With only 120 days in office, Garfield’s presidency remains one of the shortest in U.S. history.

William McKinley: The Catalyst for the Secret Service

On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shot while attending a public event at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz, blaming McKinley for his unemployment following the financial panic of 1893, fired two shots at the president from within the crowd.

McKinley died from his wounds on September 14, 1901. His death led to the creation of the Secret Service, tasked with protecting the president and his family—a responsibility it still holds today. Czolgosz was arrested, sentenced to death, and later executed.

John F. Kennedy: A Historically Resonant Assassination

Perhaps the most famous of all presidential assassinations is that of John F. Kennedy, shot on November 22, 1963, in Dallas. The charismatic 46-year-old president’s death has inspired countless films, books, and works of art. While the official culprit, Lee Harvey Oswald, was swiftly convicted, conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy’s death abound.

The Warren Commission and the House Select Committee on Assassinations both concluded that two shooters were likely involved, though only Oswald’s identity was confirmed. Many theories suggest that a wide array of actors—from the CIA, FBI, and Mafia to the Soviet KGB, Fidel Castro, or even Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson—had motives for killing Kennedy.

A Recent Attempt Evokes Memories of the Past

As the U.S. enters the longest stretch in its history without a major political assassination, the recent attempts on Donald Trump’s life are a stark reminder that violence remains a threat. With Trump leading the polls for the upcoming presidential election, the Secret Service has significantly heightened security around the former president, treating him as if he were already in office to prevent further attempts on his life.

Nguelifack Vijilin Cairtou