The Long History of U.S. Political Shootings

The United States has faced a long history of political violence, with lawmakers, presidents, and activists targeted over decades.

Most recently, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a Utah university, highlighting the ongoing threat of political attacks.

 In 2025, Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed by a gunman with a manifesto listing other lawmakers.

President Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts in 2024, including a Pennsylvania rally where a bystander was killed.

Other high-profile cases include Representative Steve Scalise (2017), Gabrielle Giffords (2011), and Presidents Ronald Reagan (1981) and John F. Kennedy (1963).

Civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. (1968) and Malcolm X (1965), as well as political figures Robert F. Kennedy (1968) and George Wallace (1972), were also shot, leaving lasting impacts on U.S. history and shaping debates on gun violence and security.