John Hinckley Jr. Reflects on Jodie Foster 45 Years After Reagan Shooting

Decades after his infamous assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, John Hinckley Jr. has offered his thoughts on actress Jodie Foster, the object of his obsession at the time of the 1981 shooting. Speaking in a preview for the “Mark Joesph Show,” Hinckley, now 71, expressed a simple wish for the acclaimed actress: “I just wish Jodie Foster well.” He elaborated, “I don’t really see her movies, but I wish her well, and I know she’s doing quite well. And that’s all I can say: I just, I wish Jodie well, and I hope she has a good life.”

A Delusional Past

The shooting, which occurred 45 years ago outside the Washington Hilton, was driven by a profound delusion. Hinckley believed that by carrying out the act, he would somehow forge a union with Foster, with whom he was then obsessively fixated. “I wanted to have like this union with Jodie Foster, and live the rest of my life with her and all these things that, of course, were delusional, but I was believing those things at that time,” Hinckley told host Mark Joesph. He explained that his warped thinking led him to believe Foster would join him, regardless of his fate. “You know, I didn’t know if I was going to be in jail or hospital or what, but after things settled down, I had this notion that she was going to join me wherever I was.”

Hinckley’s obsession with Foster reportedly stemmed from her role in the 1976 film “Taxi Driver.” He mistakenly believed the shooting would capture her attention and lead to their supposed union. The assassination attempt left President Reagan with a punctured lung, broken rib, and internal bleeding. White House Press Secretary James Brady was critically wounded, suffering brain damage that ultimately contributed to his death in 2014, a death later ruled a homicide. Two other individuals were also injured in the incident.

Legal Aftermath and Release

Following the shooting, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was subsequently committed to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. After spending years in institutional care, he was released in 2016. By 2022, Hinckley had achieved full release from court restrictions and was living in Virginia.

Foster as a Potential Target

Reflecting on the events, Hinckley acknowledged the potential danger Foster herself faced due to his disturbed state of mind. “She definitely could have been a target, it’s just fate went the other way,” he admitted. “But, yeah, she could have been a target. But as fate turned out, it was Reagan instead of her.” This admission underscores the unpredictable and dangerous nature of his delusions at the time.

Past Apologies

In a previous interview with CBS in 2022, Hinckley had issued an apology for his actions. “I shot four people, and I’m sorry to the Reagan family, the Brady family, the other families of the victims,” he stated then. “I’m sorry to Jodie Foster for bringing her into this.” His remarks to Joesph appear to be a continuation of this theme, though focused more directly on his past fixation with the actress.

The Long Shadow of “Taxi Driver”

The connection between Hinckley’s actions and his fixation on Jodie Foster, particularly her role in “Taxi Driver,” has remained a central element of the narrative surrounding the assassination attempt. Foster herself has spoken about the disturbing nature of the obsession and the impact it had on her life, even as she pursued a highly successful career in Hollywood. The film, which depicts a disturbed taxi driver’s descent into violence, seems to have resonated with Hinckley in a way that tragically spilled into reality.

A Life Beyond Obsession

Now, living without legal restrictions, Hinckley’s comments suggest a desire to distance himself from the violent past driven by his delusions. His expressed well wishes for Foster, while perhaps a small gesture, mark a point of reflection nearly half a century after the event that irrevocably altered the lives of many, including his own. The full interview is expected to air on Wednesday, offering further insight into Hinckley’s perspective on his past actions and his life today.