Security incidents involving Donald Trump

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Donald Trump has been the target of multiple assassination attempts during his presidential campaigns and as president.

The earliest known attempt occurred at a campaign rally shortly before he secured the nomination of the Republican Party in the 2016 presidential election. Throughout Trump's first term in office, he was targeted but unharmed in multiple failed assassination attempts.

The most serious incident took place at a Pennsylvania campaign rally in 2024 while Trump was running for a second term. The attempt resulted in two deaths, that of the would-be assassin and a spectator. Trump was injured by a bullet that struck his right ear. This was the only attempt in which Trump was shot.

## 2016 incident at Dayton, Ohio rally

[edit]

On March 12, 2016, 22-year-old Thomas DiMassimo was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct as he broke over the police barricade and attempted to rush the stage during a rally in Dayton, Ohio. He was tackled by the Secret Service.[1] On July 26, 2016, DiMassimo was sentenced to one year probation.[2]

## 2016 attempted assassination of Donald Trump at Las Vegas rally

[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, Austyn 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.[3][4]

## 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 had assumed he was stealing 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".[5][6]

## 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.[7] He was subsequently remanded for psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and the charges against him were dismissed on January 25, 2022.[8]

## 2020 escort from press briefing

[edit]

On August 10, 2020, Trump was escorted from a press briefing by a secret service agent after an armed suspect was shot outside the White House fencing.[9]

## 2020 ricin poisoning attempt

[edit]

On September 20, 2020, Pascale Cécile Véronique 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 was charged with eight counts each of prohibitions with respect to biological weapons and making threats via interstate commerce and faced up to life in prison.[10][11] On August 17, 2023, a US court sentenced Ferrier to nearly 22 years in prison.[12]

## 2020 Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot

[edit]

Main article: Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot

In October 2020, it was reported that Barry Croft Jr, a Delaware man who was arrested for his involvement in the kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, included Trump in a list of politicians he wanted to kill by hanging.[13] In December 2022, Croft was sentenced to 19 years in prison.[14]

## 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania

[edit]

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania

The rifle used by Crooks in the attempted assassination

On July 13, 2024, Thomas Matthew Crooks fired eight shots from an AR15-style rifle at Trump while speaking at a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania.[15] Trump was shot and wounded in his upper right ear before dropping to the ground and being shielded by the Secret Service. Crooks also killed one member of the audience, Corey Comperatore, as well as critically injuring two others, prior to being shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service Counter Sniper Team.[16][17]

The assassination attempt prompted the resignation of the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, as well as several ongoing investigations into the incident as a political assassination attempt as well as an act of domestic terrorism.[18]

## 2024 assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club

[edit]

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida

The backpack and rifle allegedly used by Routh in the assassination attempt

On September 15, 2024, Ryan Wesley Routh 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. A Secret Service officer shot at Routh, who fled was apprehended while driving away. The FBI was investigating it as an assassination attempt.[19]

Authorities later confirmed that Routh did indeed wish to kill the former president.[20] An indictment on April 7, 2025 revealed that Routh was planning the assassination attempt as early as February 2024 with an accomplice who called himself "Ramiro", who lived in Mexico.[21][22] A preliminary trial date was set for September 8, 2025.[23] Routh could face life in prison if convicted.[24]

## 2024 Security incident at Coachella rally

[edit]

On October 12, 2024, a man was arrested near a checkpoint at a Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California. The man had possessed two firearms and ammunition, multiple passports with different names, and an unregistered vehicle with a fake license plate.[25] On the same day, he was released after posting a $5,000 bail.[26][27]

## See also

[edit]

* Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Trump Surrounded by Secret Service as Man Tries Rushing Stage". ABC News.
2. ^ "Trump Rally Fence Jumper Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to 1 Year Probation". United States Department of Justice. July 27, 2016.
3. ^ "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.
4. ^ "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.
5. ^ "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.
6. ^ "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.
7. ^ "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.
8. ^ "United States v. Allen (1:18-cr-00086)". CourtListener. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
9. ^ "Secret Service escorts Trump from press briefing after shooting outside White House". The Guardian. August 10, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
10. ^ 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.
11. ^ "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.
12. ^ 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.
13. ^ Snell, Robert; Mauger, Craig; Hunter, George. "Whitmer kidnap plotter also wanted to hang Trump, other politicians, FBI says". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
14. ^ "19-year sentence for second ringleader in Michigan governor kidnap plot". BBC News. December 28, 2022. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
15. ^ 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.
16. ^ "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.
17. ^ 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.
18. ^ Pandolfo, Chris (November 19, 2024). "Trump assassination attempt task force subpoenas 2 ATF employees, alleging stonewalling". Fox News. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
19. ^ "Trump safe after being targeted in second apparent assassination attempt". September 15, 2024.
20. ^ "Trump golf-course suspect left note saying he intended to kill ex-president - FBI". www.bbc.com. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
21. ^ Gibson, Jake (April 9, 2025). "Trump assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh sought rocket launcher from Ukraine: docs". Fox News. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
22. ^ Rosen, Jacob (April 9, 2025). "Trump's would-be assassin Ryan Routh sought weapon to shoot down his plane, DOJ says". CBS News. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
23. ^ Shields, Malcolm (December 24, 2024). "Federal judge sets trial date for Ryan Routh". WPBF. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
24. ^ Lewis, Kaitlin (November 4, 2024). "Trump Suspect Ryan Routh Predicts Civil War if Donald Wins". Newsweek. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
25. ^ "Man with loaded gun arrested at checkpoint near Donald Trump's weekend rally in Southern California". Associated Press. October 13, 2024.
26. ^ Thomas, Pierre; Barr, Luke; Murphy, Tracie (October 13, 2024). "Man arrested with loaded guns near Trump's Coachella rally, sheriff says". ABC News. Retrieved October 20, 2024. "Upon his arrest by local police, the man made no threats aimed at Trump and federal investigators have found no threatening material targeting Trump, sources told ABC News. There are indications on social media that he supports Trump and was at the RNC, according to sources. The individual ... claimed to be a member of the press to pass through the event's outer security perimeter."
27. ^ "Homem armado é preso perto de comício de Trump na Califórnia". G1 (in Portuguese). October 13, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 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
* San Francisco
* Jimmy Carter
* Ronald Reagan
* Bill Clinton
* George W. Bush
* Barack Obama
* Donald Trump
* Pennsylvania
* Florida

List of presidential assassination attempts and plots \- Successful attempts
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