U.S. receives new intelligence on Iranian plan targeting President Trump

Israel shared new intelligence with the United States indicating a fresh Iranian plan to assassinate President Trump, according to people familiar with the matter cited by the Wall Street Journal. The report follows years of documented Iranian threats.

In 2020, the United States conducted a drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. In 2022, Iran's then-supreme leader posted an animated video showing an autonomous ground vehicle stalking and killing Trump on a Florida golf course.

Prior plots and arrests The FBI investigated several Iranian plots to kill Trump and others, including former national security adviser John Bolton, ahead of the 2024 election. An Iranian national posing as a businessman was arrested and later convicted of attempting to hire hit men at the direction of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

NATO summit President Trump referenced the reported threat multiple times during a NATO summit in Turkey. He stated that Iran had lost multiple sets of leaders and added that he was their number one target. Trump also said he had seen items on lists that morning and noted he had been lucky so far. At a closing news conference, he repeated that he may be gone because he is their number one target.

Security measures during travel The Secret Service directed that the new Air Force One be sent ahead to Mildenhall Air Force Base in England while President Trump followed in the older aircraft, which has more advanced defensive systems. The White House communications director Steven Cheung described the switch as misdirection intended to address threats.

Cheung stated that the administration uses every tool available, including distraction, to address threats from enemies of the United States. Reporters were instructed to keep window blinds down during the flight, a standard security procedure.