The United States is facing an increasingly serious chain of political violence, with five assassination attempts or attempts that shocked public opinion in just one year. These events pose many national security issues, especially ensuring the safety of politicians.
The first shocking incident occurred in July 2024, when Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, narrowly escaped death at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attacker Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire, killing one person and injuring many others before being shot down by the slashing force. A subsequent Senate investigation concluded that the incident was able to be forted and prevented.
Just two months later, Trump continued to be a target of an assassination when a pro-Ukrainian gunman carrying a heavy weapon appeared outside a golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The subject Ryan Routh was arrested, defended himself in court and even challenged Mr. Trump to play golf.
On December 18, 2024, in Illinois, extremist right-wing activist Nick Fuentes suddenly faced danger when a person carrying a gun, a cooperative and a firecracker appeared while he was broadcasting. This person was a suspect in the murder of 3 people and was killed by the police after a chase.
In June 2025, public opinion continued to be shocked when Speaker of the House of Representatives of Minnesota, Ms. Melissa Hortman, and her husband were murdered at home. Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also seriously injured in a series of related attacks. Suspect Vance Luther Boelter, 57, with military experience, was arrested after 2 days of chase. The prosecutor said he had prepared a list of up to 70 targets, turning the case into an unprecedented political assassination plot in the state.
The latest incident occurred on September 10, 2025, when conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Trump, was shot in the neck on the podium at Utah Valley State University. He died later at the hospital. There is currently no information about the identity or motive of the perpetrator.
A series of consecutive incidents in a short period of time in the US pose a major challenge for security forces in ensuring the safety of politicians as well as public figures.
