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Trump and the recurring assassin

Shooting on Apr 25 is third assassination attempt on the US president in under two years

    • Trump (centre), flanked by Todd Blanche, acting US attorney-general (left) and Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI, meeting the media at the White House after the shooting incident on Apr 25.
    • Trump (centre), flanked by Todd Blanche, acting US attorney-general (left) and Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI, meeting the media at the White House after the shooting incident on Apr 25. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
    Published Mon, Apr 27, 2026 · 05:30 PM

    ANOTHER gunman, another seemingly close scrape with destiny. Even in a country with a grim history of political violence, US President Donald Trump certainly seems to attract more would-be assassins than others.

    By the time he had been whisked back to the White House from the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump was in an almost routine frame of mind. He had studied the history of assassinations, he told the glamorously attired press assembly.

    He concluded that only the most significant figures, such as Abraham Lincoln, are targeted. “And I hate to say I’m honoured by that, but I’ve done a lot,” he said.

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