John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate former US President Ronald Reagan in 1981 in a delusional bid to impress actress Jodie Foster, has broken his silence on the relationship that drove one of America's most shocking political crimes — offering a measured public message to Foster more than four decades later.

What Hinckley Said

Speaking on The Mark Joseph Show, Hinckley said: 'I just wish Jodie Foster well, you know. 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 is just, I wish Jodie well, and I hope she has a good life.'

The statement is notable for its restraint. Hinckley neither sought contact nor expressed regret in elaborate terms — he simply wished her well and moved on.

The Obsession Behind the Attack

On 30 March 1981, Hinckley fired six shots at President Reagan as he exited a hotel in Washington, D.C. Reagan survived, though he sustained a serious gunshot wound. Several others, including press secretary James Brady, were also injured in the attack.

Hinckley told the show that his motive was entirely rooted in a fixation on Foster: 'I wanted to have a 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 the time, so the best outcome would have been a union with Jodie Foster.'

He had reportedly stalked Foster during her time as a student at Yale University, and believed she would eventually come to him after the attack. 'I thought she would, you know, after things settled down, join me wherever I was,' he said. 'I wasn't sure if I was gonna be in jail or the hospital or what after things settled down. I had this notion that she was gonna join me wherever I was,' he added.

Legal Outcome and Years Since

Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to a psychiatric facility rather than sentenced to prison. He was unconditionally released in 2022 after decades of supervised treatment and monitoring. Since his release, he has pursued music and has maintained a public presence through interviews and social media.

Foster's Position

Foster, who has spoken about the attack in the past, has consistently maintained distance from Hinckley. She has described the experience as deeply unsettling and has never indicated any contact with him. Her career — spanning decades of acclaimed films — continued uninterrupted by the incident that once put her name at the centre of a presidential assassination attempt.

Hinckley's latest remarks appear to close, at least from his side, a chapter that once transfixed the United States. Whether Foster chooses to respond remains to be seen.