The assassination attempts targeting American presidents remind us that the presidential office in the United States has always been at the heart of political violence.
Since 1865, several occupants of the White House have been victims of armed attacks, which have marked the history of the United States.
Abraham Lincoln, first president of the United States assassinated
The first major tragedy occurred in 1865. Just a few days after the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theater in Washington by John Wilkes Booth. Shot in the head, Lincoln died the next day. His assassination deeply shocked the United States and launched a long series of attacks targeting the American presidency.
Theodore Roosevelt survives bullet
However, not all attacks are fatal. In 1912, when he was no longer president but a candidate for a new term as president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt was the victim of an assassination attempt during a meeting in Wisconsin. A bullet fired at point-blank range passes through his folded speech in his pocket and glasses case, slowing the projectile. Seriously injured, Roosevelt nevertheless refused to cancel his intervention and delivered a speech lasting almost an hour before being hospitalized.
John F. Kennedy, the assassination that shook the United States
The most notable assassination of the 20th century remains that of John F. Kennedy. On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, the president was fatally shot while traveling in an official procession. His death, attributed to Lee Harvey Oswald, caused a worldwide shock and still fuels numerous theories and questions today. The event lastingly transformed the security arrangements surrounding the presidency of the United States.
Ronald Reagan, iconic survivor
In 1981, Ronald Reagan was seriously injured in front of a Washington hotel by John Hinckley Jr, who opened fire on the presidential motorcade. A bullet ricochets off the armored limousine before penetrating the president’s chest. Emergency surgery, Reagan survived and quickly returned to duty. His composure and humor after the attack helped boost his popularity among the American population.
George W. Bush targeted by grenade in Georgia
In May 2005, during an official visit to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, American President George W. Bush narrowly escaped a potentially deadly attack. While giving a speech alongside the Georgian president to a crowd gathered on Freedom Square, a man threw a **hand grenade** in the direction of the presidential platform.
The machine landed just a few meters from the American president. Luckily, the grenade did not explode: it was wrapped in a tight cloth which prevented the mechanism from triggering. Without this accidental element, the attack could have had dramatic consequences.
In total, four American presidents have been assassinated and several others have survived deadly attempts. These episodes are a reminder that the presidency of the United States, which is a global political symbol, remains a potential target in a country where access to weapons has often enabled acts of violence.
Despite the constant evolution of security systems and the central role of the Secret Service, American history shows that zero risk does not exist.
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