Talk:List of United States presidential assassination attempts and plots

Andrew Jackson assassination attempt needs to be added — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2605:AD80:21:C0CD:802C:F966:C2ED:B5FA (talk) 00:33, 14 July 2024 (UTC)


 * Trump is not a president. Remove him from your article. 66.90.180.250 (talk) 01:14, 14 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Exactly!! He does not belong here.  Robert Kennedy was assasinated as an actual presidential candidate and he isn’t included. Remove Trump! 67.7.2.212 (talk) 17:59, 14 July 2024 (UTC)
 * You seem to have no issues with inclusion of the assassination attempt against then former president Theodore Roosevelt. How's that room temperature IQ treating you? 69.245.145.250 (talk) 20:52, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

beans
"William Clyde Allen III, a U.S. Navy veteran, sent a letter containing castor beans to President Trump"

I put it to you that this cannot be considered an assassination attempt.Ordinary Person (talk) 12:20, 7 September 2019 (UTC)

I agree this is not an assassination attempt in any way and should be removed from this list — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:C0:C880:4F80:D548:65F2:E798:A995 (talk) 17:49, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

Clearing of version from publicly-viewable article history
I reverted this article after a 7/6 edit included unsourced and false information that named a living person and jokingly accused them of a serious crime. I think that the version that includes this vandalism should not be publicly visible. Rcondron2002 (talk) 22:39, 6 July 2020 (UTC)

When is an assassination attempt not an assassination attempt?
How about when judge, Jed S. Rakoff of Federal District Court in Manhattan, said he had concluded that Mr. Sayoc, though no firearms expert, was capable of concocting a pipe bomb that could explode and had consciously chosen not to". FDW777 (talk) 20:29, 11 May 2021 (UTC)
 * What else would we call it? A simulated, highly plausible assassination "attempt"?
 * A hoax? See Bomb threat. FDW777 (talk) 07:05, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
 * From the NYT link you shared: "An F.B.I. explosives expert, Kevin D. Finnerty, testified at the sentencing the devices would not have functioned as designed, but were capable of exploding if mishandled"; "Jane Kim, a prosecutor, said... that had Mr. Sayoc intended the bombs to be hoaxes, he could have packed them with sand, but he chose to use glass fragments." From Washingtonian: "Investigators discovered that Sayoc’s van, which doubled as his home, was plastered with pro-Trump posters. Inside, they found evidence of an unhinged man with a political obsession: a Trump-Pence T-shirt pulled over the passenger seat, headshots of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton tossed among the clutter, and page after page of chilling writings, including “Kill your enemy.”"..."in pleading guilty, Sayoc admitted being aware of the risk that they might explode." The entry could be couched with the judge's conclusion, but I don't think it should be removed. Fences  &amp;  Windows  09:39, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
 * At the end of the day a prosecutor's job is to try and lock people up for as long as possible, so simply because they say something doesn't make it true. How about the LA Times? Prior to hearing from lawyers, Rakoff questioned two bomb experts and two doctors who examined Sayoc. The bomb experts, one an FBI agent and one hired by the defense, agreed Sayoc’s packages were not configured to explode. As the judge noted, the clocks were not set and wires were not attached. There's a substantial difference between agreeing something might explode if mishandled and it being a deliberate assassination attempt on a president. FDW777 (talk) 15:34, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Joe Biden
There have been several attempts to add two cases of threats against Joe Biden to the article. But they were threats that were made in October 2020, when he was still a candidate. This article is supposed to be about threats against sitting U.S. Presidents. So I have removed the Joe Biden sections. I'm coming here to explain why. -- MelanieN (talk) 19:19, 5 June 2021 (UTC)


 * I don't think the one currently listed for Biden really counts as an attempt. Crashing your vehicle somewhere in the vicinity of the white house isn't really an attempt 38.110.247.52 (talk) 38.110.247.52 (talk) 21:33, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Necessary detail for entries
What should every entry in the section "Assassination attempts and plots" have? My ideas:
 * For the attacker's background, his name, age, occupation and state of residence.
 * Every entry should describe the motive in sufficient detail. "Mentally ill" or "political extremist" are too broad. State whether the attacker was sane or insane, unless already implied.
 * If the plot was a conspiracy, describe the conspirators.
 * The location and date of the attack are also necessary, the weapon used, casualties and how the incident ended.
 * The rest of the attacker's life, including his criminal sentence.
 * Where the president was at the time and what he was doing. It is also important to mention, if true, that the attacker was not actually near the president.
 * The historical significance and aftermath of the attempted assassination, and any noteworthy firsts, such as "first attempted assassination by an Islamist extremist" (not yet noted in the article) or "only assassination attempt to use a forklift as a weapon" (see section Donald Trump). — Preceding unsigned comment added by OneToZero (talk • contribs) 01:54, 31 October 2021 (UTC)

Alexander Hillel Treisman
I feel we should probably add the event that happened a year ago, in which a pedophile named Alexander Hillel Treisman got only a couple of blocks away from Joe Biden's house with an AR-15 and stated online that he was going to kill him. It seems relevant because of how close he got to the Biden home, and the fact that he faces additional criminal charges in regards to child pornography. HumanHistory1 (talk) 15:18, 4 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Biden was a candidate at the time, so it doesn't count. OneToZero (talk) 23:47, 4 November 2021 (UTC)

Missing President!
Where's Reagan!? You know, the guy who was ACTUALLY shot? 76.102.196.178 (talk) 23:01, 6 April 2022 (UTC)
 * You mean under the heading "presidents wounded"? Please read the entire article before posting here.  Acroterion   (talk)   23:16, 6 April 2022 (UTC)

James A. Garfield in 1881 was assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2, 1881 He was shot once in the arm and once in the back. He died of sepsis because of the unsanitary methods of treating the wounds.

William McKinley was shot twice while at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY in the abdomen by Leon Czolgosz on September 6, 1901. He died on September 14 from gangrene. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1700:5008:5850:6D0D:8F7E:25A9:BA9C (talk) 01:13, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Threats
Should there be a section for "credible threats"? For instance, one George Todsen threatened to kill President John Quincy Adams, and the threat was taken seriously by Adams' security (Although Adams did not take it seriously). He even approached the White House where Adams told him off. AlfLandonFan (talk) 18:05, 28 August 2023 (UTC)


 * I would say it goes beyond the scope of the article to include threats that weren't acted on. If Todsen approached the White House but didn't actually attempt anything with Adams, it doesn't seem that notable, and if he did, then it was an attempt that could already be included in this list. Admittedly it's fuzzy between a single person's threat and a "plot". Jerodast (talk) 07:43, 18 September 2023 (UTC)

Trump in PA
I see that somebody has already updated the page to show that, but my question is, does an assassination attempt on a former president belong on this page? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:4808:2950:1100:9C8:3CD5:7039:507B (talk) 22:47, 13 July 2024 (UTC)


 * It would appear for other Presidents it includes post-presidency attempts. J cool bro   (talk) (c) 23:05, 13 July 2024 (UTC)


 * Not while the story is still developing, it doesn't. If people can't find their chill, the page should be protected until we have more information. GenevieveDEon (talk) 23:05, 13 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes, especially as it now has false information as he wasn't actually hit despite initial reports Nheyer (talk) 08:44, 14 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Donald was indeed grazed with a bullet. You can see the blood come from his right ear in many photos circulating on the internet. Nonetheless, the attempt still belongs on the list because it is an assassination attempt on a former presidential figure, regardless of whether he is still president or not. 2601:546:8100:CB50:797A:F830:BCD6:117 (talk) 15:10, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 13 July 2024
Add to the Trump portion of the Presidents wounded section that he was escorted by Secret Service people and doctors think he'll be okay 2600:1700:190C:50:2976:8B1B:BDF7:3A6 (talk) 23:06, 13 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Pictogram voting wait.svg Already done Cannolis (talk) 23:45, 13 July 2024 (UTC)

Edit
This implies TR and Reagan were former presidents when shot which was not the case 2600:1005:B026:F9BF:F872:A44:1787:363B (talk) 00:29, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Ronald Reagan
Why is the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan not listed? 70.35.178.45 (talk) 02:54, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Failed assassination of Teddy Roosevelt
Should belong here; See Attempted assassination of Theodore Roosevelt 24.56.249.99 (talk) 05:02, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Donald Trump listing:
As Former President Trump is a presidential candidate, and not the President, I do not think he should be listed on under this subject. While this assassination attempt will have a large affect on the politics of the United States it does not affect the running of the government or raise any of the issues addressed in the 25th amendment. Gam3 (talk) 07:18, 14 July 2024 (UTC)


 * Teddy was also a former president who was shot while campaigning, and he's been on the list since 2007.
 * Also to quote the article "This article lists assassination attempts on former presidents and presidents-elect, but not on those who had not yet been elected president". Trump is a former president, so counts. SqueakSquawk4 (talk) 09:43, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

New politic opening
Bsind didnbfidnf fifbdon 2603:7000:D200:1A0F:85DD:DD43:8058:9D2 (talk) 18:15, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

How about Gerald Ford? So much for accuracy Wikipedia. 2600:8805:2709:BC00:D169:8CA8:2E4A:984 (talk) 18:59, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 July 2024
change “while in office (1981, by John Hinckley Jr.), and former presidents Theodore Roosevelt (1912, by John Schrank), and Donald Trump (2024, by Thomas Matthew Crooks[2]).”

to “ while in office (1981, by John Hinckley Jr.), former presidents Theodore Roosevelt (1912, by John Schrank), and Donald Trump (2024, by Thomas Matthew Crooks[2]).” 47.155.42.51 (talk) 19:18, 14 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: This would make the sentence not make sense. "and" needed to put the two clauses together. J cool bro   (talk) (c) 22:55, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 15 July 2024
This article states that Donald Trump had an assassination attempt on him while he was in office. This is not correct. He is however, both a former president and a presidential candidate that had an assassination attempt 2600:100E:A020:3C38:E8F2:4D80:DB06:E683 (talk) 00:40, 15 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate.
 * If you are referring to the lede, the "in office" statement only applies to Reagan. But, later in the article it does say there was an attempt in 2017 when Trump was sitting president, so please clarify what change you are asking for.  RudolfRed (talk) 02:39, 15 July 2024 (UTC)

"Presidents" vs "Presidents and former presidents"
I think Reagan's should be a separate section from Roosevelt's and Trump's, who were not in office at the time they were injured. Otherwise, the title of the section should be revised. Seananony (talk) 16:41, 15 July 2024 (UTC)


 * There is definitely an issue here. This article begins with the words "Assassination attempts and plots on the President of the United States have been numerous" and notably the phrase "President of the United States" is linked to the WP article on *the* President of the United States - meaning the incumbent President - of which there is only one and can be only one (at any given moment in time). Unless the opening sentence is amended, this article can only logically deal with assassination attempts on the current President (who at this moment is Biden) and would have to be updated in real-time.
 * Alternatives are to amend the opening sentence to state "people who were the President of the United States or were former Presidents of the United States at the time of the attempted assassination", or to create a new article dealing with assassination attempts on "people who at the time of the assassination attempt were the President or a former President of the United States."
 * I also note that the timeline of assassination attempts in this article places a purported 2023 attempt on Biden after the 2024 attempt on Trump. As a simple issue of chronological order, 2023 is prior to 2024 and therefore the order should be corrected in this article.
 * And it is clearly questionable whether or not the 2023 incident described should count as an assassination attempt - the person who drove a truck into a fence might have wished to kill Biden, but it is obvious that his actions represented zero threat to Biden's life. If an insane person throws a stone at a pigeon in Trafalgar Square, London, and states that his intentions in assaulting said bird were to kill the President of the USA in Washington DC, is that an assassination attempt? Flusapochterasumesch (talk) 22:30, 19 July 2024 (UTC)
 * @Flusapochterasumesch I deleted the mention of the recent attack on Trump since it was already mentioned above that.
 * I agree "assassination" should maybe be reworded in that section. Was the September 6, 2017 incident really an attempted assassination? Probably should be a separate talk discussion item though. Seananony (talk) 05:11, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

Possible addition
Should Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump be included? --- Another Believer ( Talk ) 16:11, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Donald Trump 2024 listing
Should he really have his 2024 assassination attempt in assassination attempts and plots section if he was in the presidents wounded section? This did not happen with Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt. JimmyCarterLover1 (talk) 19:39, 19 July 2024 (UTC)


 * @JimmyCarterLover1 Removed it from the later section. Seananony (talk) 05:12, 20 July 2024 (UTC)