Security incidents involving Donald Trump

Assassination attempts and threats against Donald Trump

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Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, has been involved in security incidents before, during, and after his time in office, including assassination threats and attempts. The first known attempt occurred before Trump was the official Republican nominee, at a campaign rally during the 2016 presidential election. The most significant incident was an attempt to assassinate Trump at a campaign rally during the 2024 presidential election, which resulted in two deaths (including the would-be assassin) and an injury to Trump's ear. The latest incident was a shooting at the Trump International Golf Club.

## 2016 Las Vegas rally incident

[edit]

Main article: 2016 Donald Trump Las Vegas rally incident

On June 18, 2016, Trump was giving a speech at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of his presidential campaign. During the speech, Michael Steven Sandford, a 20-year-old British man, attempted to grab a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer's pistol. The officer quickly subdued Sandford, who was arrested and handed over to the United States Secret Service, where he expressed his desire to murder Trump. Sandford was sentenced to 12 months and one day's imprisonment, along with being fined $200. After becoming eligible for early release, Sandford was released and deported to the United Kingdom in May 2017.

## 2016 Reno "gun" scare

[edit]

On November 5, 2016, three days before the presidential election, Trump was speaking at a rally in Reno, Nevada, when a man in the crowd screamed "gun." This caused Trump to be rushed off stage by security, and the man was tackled by surrounding members of the crowd. The man, identified as 33-year-old Austyn Daniel Crites, was subdued by Secret Service agents and searched, only to find that he was unarmed. Crites, a Republican who opposed Trump, was holding up a sign shortly before that stated "Republicans against Trump". Crites stated that others attempted to grab the sign and were booing him. After the scene was cleared and identified as safe, Trump returned to the stage minutes later and finished the speech without incident.[1][2]

## 2017 forklift attack attempt

[edit]

On September 6, 2017, in Mandan, North Dakota, Gregory Lee Leingang stole a forklift from an oil refinery and attempted to drive it toward the presidential motorcade while Trump was visiting to rally public support. After the forklift became jammed within the refinery, he fled on foot and was arrested by the pursuing police. While interviewed in detention, Leingang admitted his intent to murder the president by flipping the presidential limousine with the stolen forklift, to the surprise of authorities, who suspected he was merely thieving the vehicle for personal use. Leingang pleaded guilty to the attempted attack, stealing the forklift, related charges and several other unrelated crimes on the same day. Consequently, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. His defense attorney noted a "serious psychiatric crisis".[3][4]

## 2018 ricin poisoning attempt

[edit]

On October 1, 2018, an envelope laced with ricin was sent to Trump before being discovered by mailing facilities. Several other letters were sent to the Pentagon, all of them labeled on the front with "Jack and the Missile Bean Stock Powder". Two days later on October 3, a 39-year-old Utah Navy veteran named William Clyde Allen III was arrested and charged with one count of mailing a threat against the president and five counts of mailing threatening communications to an officer or an employee of the United States. Allen pleaded not guilty to all charges.[5]

## 2020 ricin poisoning attempt

[edit]

On September 20, 2020, Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier was arrested in Buffalo, New York, while attempting to cross over the border to Canada. Ferrier, who is Canadian, wrote in a ricin-laced letter to Trump that he should drop out of the ongoing 2020 presidential election along with calling him an "ugly tyrant clown". She is charged with eight counts each of prohibitions with respect to biological weapons and making threats via interstate commerce and faces up to life in prison.[6][7] On August 17, 2023, a US court sentenced Ferrier to nearly 22 years in prison for sending a letter containing lethal ricin to then-President Donald Trump.[8]

## 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania

[edit]

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

The rifle used by Crooks in the attempted assassination

On July 13, 2024, Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots into a Trump rally from an elevated position outside the venue while Trump was giving a speech near Butler, Pennsylvania.[9] Trump was injured and was bleeding from his right ear after the shooting.[10] Crooks, as well as a rally attendee, were killed, while another two were left injured.[11]

## 2024 Trump International Golf Club incident

[edit]

Main article: Trump International Golf Club shooting

On September 15, 2024, a man was sighted bearing a rifle in shrubs at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Donald Trump was golfing at the club. Secret Service officers shot at the man, who fled. A suspect was apprehended while driving away. The FBI is investigating it as an assassination attempt.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump
* Security incidents involving George W. Bush
* Security incidents involving Barack Obama

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Trump campaign isn't apologizing for suggesting Reno scene was assassination attempt". washingtonpost.com. November 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
2. ^ "Trump rushed off stage in Reno by security, but quickly returns". washingtonpost.com. November 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
3. ^ "North Dakota man pleads guilty to using stolen forklift in Trump assassination attempt". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 11, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
4. ^ "Inside one man's failed plan to use a stolen forklift to assassinate Trump". The Washington Post. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
5. ^ "Ricin-filled tales: Criminals who sent poisoned envelopes to Presidents". wionews.com. November 5, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
6. ^ Gomez-Patino, Elizabeth (December 15, 2020). "Canadian woman accused of mailing ricin to Trump, Valley officials indicted". wric.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
7. ^ "Pascale Ferrier: White House ricin package suspect in court". BBC. September 22, 2020. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
8. ^ Jiménez, Jesus (August 17, 2023). "Woman Who Mailed Ricin to Trump Is Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
9. ^ Terkel, Amanda (July 13, 2024). "Secret Service rushes Trump off stage after shots fired at his Pennsylvania rally". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
10. ^ Meyer, Matt; Shelton, Shania; B. Powell, Tori (July 13, 2024). "Live updates: The latest on the 2024 campaign". CNN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
11. ^ "Live updates: Shooter dead, rally attendee killed and Trump whisked off stage after gunshots ring out at rally". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
12. ^ "Trump safe after being targeted in second apparent assassination attempt". September 15, 2024.

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Assassination attempts on presidents of the United States

* Andrew Jackson
* Abraham Lincoln
* Theodore Roosevelt
* Franklin D. Roosevelt
* Harry S. Truman
* John F. Kennedy
* Richard Nixon
* Gerald Ford
* Sacramento
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* Jimmy Carter
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* Bill Clinton
* George W. Bush
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* Donald Trump
* Pennsylvania

List of presidential assassination attempts and plots
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