On March 30 1981, the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan (pictured here surrounded by a crowd of people after being shot in the lung) had already been captured by TV cameras, just a few metres from the spot where, 45 years later, Cole Tomas Allen attempted allegedly to kill Donald Trump.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library/AFP
Florian Leniaud, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) – Université Paris-Saclay
Forty-five years apart, two assassination attempts on American Presidents rather uncannily happened at the very same location. This case of history repeating itself offers much food for thought.
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, shortly before he was shot and killed.
Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
Charlie Kirk’s education beliefs have deep roots that predate the MAGA movement and trace back to the 1960s.
A memorial for Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, is seen at the Minnesota State Capitol building on June 16, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn.
Steven Garcia/Getty Images
The lone wolf metaphor used to describe mass shooters misinforms views of extremists – and hampers law enforcement efforts to deter the violence.
Tanzania’s Tundu Lissu is a former presidential candidate and vice-chairperson of Chadema, the country’s main opposition party.
Ericky Boniphace/AFP via Getty Images
While 4 presidents have been killed, many others have been victims of plots to end their lives − sometimes because of political anger, but many other times for incomprehensible reasons.
Docteur en civilisation américaine. Membre associé au Centre d’histoire culturelle des sociétés contemporaines, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) – Université Paris-Saclay