On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump revealed that intelligence officials have briefed him about a serious plot to assassinate him, which he described as a significant threat. He claimed that this plot was nearly carried out by one of America’s most notorious foreign adversaries.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the U.S. military is “watching and waiting” to see if Iran follows through on a covert plot to assassinate him before Election Day. A campaign spokesman further revealed that U.S. intelligence officials have briefed Trump on “real and specific threats” aimed at destabilizing the country. “Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire U.S. Military is watching and waiting. Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again,” Trump wrote Tuesday night.
“Not a good situation for anyone,” he went on. “I am surrounded by more men, guns, and weapons than I have ever seen before. Thank you to Congress for unanimously approving far more money to Secret Service – Zero ‘NO’ Votes, strictly bipartisan. Nice to see Republicans and Democrats get together on something. An attack on a former President is a Death Wish for the attacker!”
Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire U.S. Military is watching and waiting. Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again. Not a good situation for anyone. I am surrounded by more men, guns, and weapons than I have ever seen before. Thank you…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 25, 2024
“President Trump was briefed earlier today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States,” spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to NBC News. “Intelligence officials have identified that these continued and coordinated attacks have heightened in the past few months, and law enforcement officials across all agencies are working to ensure President Trump is protected and the election is free from interference.”
A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed that President Trump was briefed on the threats but did not provide details on their number or nature. The Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York and the Harris campaign did not respond to requests for comment, the report noted.
Following the July 13th shooting that nearly took his life, the Secret Service significantly increased its security measures for President Trump. An investigation into the security lapse revealed that agents were inadequately trained and unprepared, struggling with coordination with local authorities, operating their limited equipment, and monitoring the suspicious individual before the shooting occurred. Shortly thereafter, the Biden administration publicly disclosed its awareness of the Iranian plot against Trump. In response, acting Secret Service Director Robert Rowe approved enhanced security measures and additional personnel for Trump.
However, the Secret Service has faced significant turmoil since the incident, raising concerns about its readiness to prevent similar attacks. On Wednesday, a preliminary U.S. Senate report revealed that agents had insufficient training with unmanned drones tasked with monitoring the rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania. Additionally, counter-snipers struggled to coordinate with ground authorities tracking 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was seeking a vantage point on a nearby roof. Despite alerts about the unsecured roof, no follow-up actions were taken. Crooks ultimately took position on the roof, firing multiple rounds that grazed Trump on his right ear, killed one individual, and critically injured two others.
