Former US President Donald Trump was shot at a campaign rally on July 14, 2024. The Republican Party was set to formally announce him as their candidate for the White House the next day i.e. July 15. The assassination attempt occurred just one day before this announcement. After being shot, Trump touched the right side of his face and then collapsed to the ground. Blood was seen flowing from the right side of his face. Secret service agents immediately rescued him. They then helped him up and took him inside. The attacker was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service. Notably, this isn’t the first time a state leader has been publicly shot. Leaders worldwide have encountered assassination attempts or have been assassinated in the past.
Abraham Lincoln
The first assassination of a US President occurred in 1865 when actor John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head during a performance at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC, shortly after the Civil War ended. Lincoln died within 12 hours of being shot. Booth fled the scene but was caught weeks later in Virginia and shot dead. Lincoln’s death marked a significant moment in American history, altering the course of post-war reconstruction.
James Garfield
In July 1881, the 20th US President James Garfield was attacked at a railway station in Washington, D.C. Although he initially survived the shooting, he succumbed to his injuries and died in New Jersey a few months later, in September 1881. Garfield’s assassination highlighted the need for civil service reform and led to significant changes in the federal employment system.
Ronald Reagan
US President Ronald Reagan was attacked on March 30, 1981, by John W. Hinckley Jr., a mentally unstable drifter. Hinckley fired six shots at Reagan outside a hotel in Washington, DC, one of which hit Reagan in the chest, puncturing his lung and coming within an inch of his heart. Reagan’s survival and quick recovery boosted his popularity and showcased the resilience of the American presidency.
William McKinley
In 1901, US President William McKinley was shot during a public exhibition while meeting with the public. He succumbed to his injuries a week later. McKinley’s assassination led to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, which ushered in significant progressive reforms in the early 20th century.
John F. Kennedy
35th US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by former Marine officer Lee Harvey Oswald in November 1963. Oswald shot Kennedy during a public motorcade in Dallas as Kennedy rode in an open-top limousine. Kennedy’s assassination remains one of the most investigated and controversial events in American history, impacting the nation’s internal security profoundly.
Indira Gandhi
Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by her own bodyguards. The attackers were angered by Operation Blue Star. Her assassination led to widespread unrest in the country. Indira Gandhi’s death resulted in a violent backlash against the Sikh community and significantly impacted Indian politics.
Rajiv Gandhi
Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a suicide bomber during an election campaign rally in Tamil Nadu. The attack was carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organisation from Sri Lanka. Rajiv’s assassination had significant implications for India’s security policies and regional politics.
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister, was assassinated on December 27, 2007, while campaigning in Rawalpindi. As she was preparing to leave after delivering a speech, an attacker shot her. Bhutto’s assassination plunged Pakistan into a period of turmoil and uncertainty, deeply affecting its political landscape.
Shinzo Abe
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated on July 8, 2022. The attacker fired two shots at Abe while he was addressing a rally in Nara city. Abe was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. His assassination shocked Japan, a country with strict gun control laws and rare occurrences of political violence.
