In Pennsylvania in 1753, a 21-year-old George Washington narrowly escaped with his life during an assassination attempt while traveling from Virginia to western Pennsylvania to prevent war. He was on a mission to deliver a letter from Virginia Gov. Robert Dinwiddie to French troops, requesting that they leave the area. However, the French did not comply, and a war broke out about six months after Washington’s visit to Fort Le Boeuf. On his journey back to Virginia, Washington and his guide, Christopher Gist, encountered a man posing as an Indian guide who was allied with French troops and attempted to shoot Washington but missed. This incident is now commemorated by markers in Evans City, Pennsylvania, close to where former President Donald Trump recently survived an assassination attempt.
The failed attempt on Washington’s life in 1753, less than 15 paces away from him, is similar to the recent incident involving Trump in 2024, where a bullet grazed his right ear. The eerie parallels between these two events have not gone unnoticed by historians and officials like Jack Cohen, president of Butler County Tourism and board member of the 1753 George Washington Trail. Cohen, along with other board members, is working to have Washington’s historic route officially recognized by the National Parks Service as a National Historic Trail. The significance of Washington narrowly escaping death in Butler County makes it a site that should be commemorated and preserved for its historical importance.
Despite the nearly 270-year gap between the assassination attempts on Washington and Trump, the similarities between the two incidents underscore the dangers faced by prominent figures throughout history. The fact that Washington was targeted in Pennsylvania in 1753, only to have Trump face a similar threat in the same state in 2024, highlights the enduring nature of such risks. The markers in Evans City serve as a reminder of Washington’s brush with death and the importance of preserving and commemorating historical events that have shaped the nation’s history.
The events of 1753 and 2024 in Pennsylvania both involved assassination attempts on prominent figures, albeit with different outcomes. Washington’s narrow escape from death during his mission to prevent war with the French and save young America contrasts with Trump’s survival of a recent shooting incident. The parallels between these two events serve as a reminder of the dangers faced by leaders throughout history and the resilience and resolve required to overcome such threats. The efforts to preserve and recognize Washington’s historic route in Butler County underscore the enduring significance of these events in shaping American history.
The juxtaposition of Washington’s assassination attempt in 1753 and Trump’s survival in 2024 highlights the historical significance of these events and the enduring threats faced by leaders throughout American history. By commemorating Washington’s narrow escape in Butler County and acknowledging the parallels with the recent incident involving Trump, historians and officials aim to preserve these important chapters in America’s past. The efforts to establish Washington’s historic route as a National Historic Trail underscore the importance of recognizing the bravery and resilience of leaders like Washington and Trump in the face of adversity and danger. The shared history of these two events serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of such incidents on American history and the need to commemorate and preserve their memory for future generations.
