September 10, 2025 Charlie Kirk's killing occurred during a period of deepening division and increasingly frequent violence in American politics. It followed a series of violent political incidents, including the June 2025 shootings of two Minnesota legislators and their spouses, the May 2025 killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington D.C., the April 2025 arson attack on Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro's residence, the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and assassination attempts on Donald Trump in July and September 2024. Other instances of political violence in recent years include the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi in 2022, the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021, and the Congressional baseball shooting in 2017.
On September 15, 2024, Donald Trump, then a former president of the United States and nominee of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election, survived an alleged assassination attempt while golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. A suspect, later identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was spotted hiding in nearby shrubbery while aiming a rifle at a member of Trump's security detail. A Secret Service agent fired upon Routh, who fled the scene and was later captured in Martin County. No injuries were reported.
Most Notable Western Political Assassinations Since 1945
| Name | Country | Year | Position | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy | USA | 1963 | President | Shooting |
| Robert F. Kennedy | USA | 1968 | Senator | Shooting |
| Jo Cox | UK | 2016 | MP | Shooting |
| Pim Fortuyn | Netherlands | 2002 | Politician | Shooting |
| Olof Palme | Sweden | 1986 | Prime Minister | Shooting |
| Aldo Moro | Italy | 1978 | Prime Minister (former) | Kidnapping/shooting |
| Shinzo Abe | Japan | 2022 | Prime Minister (former) | Shooting |
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