U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that there is a credible Iranian plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The former president recently spoke out about the possible threat to his life.
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Tehran has also been found to have been trying to interfere in the upcoming presidential election, which raises concerns about foreign influence in American politics.
The Trump campaign released a statement on Tuesday announcing that the former president had been briefed on the matter. The campaign assured the nation that law enforcement is working to protect the former president and suggested that the Iranian regime would prefer to have Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office.
“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.
“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.
“Make no mistake, the terror regime in Iran loves the weakness of Kamala Harris, and is terrified of the strength and resolve of President Trump. He will let nothing stop him or get in his way to fight for the American people and to Make America Great Again.” – Steven Cheung, Trump Campaign Communications Director.
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The former president issued his own statement in a post on Truth Social, thanking Congress for passing a measure to allow more Secret Service protection.
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 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!
NBC News reported that the plot is motivated by Iran’s desire to avenge the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike ordered by the former president in 2020. Iran has made several efforts to retaliate, including cyberattacks aimed at U.S. political campaigns, according to the report.
Nevertheless, Trump has continued to hold public rallies and has not shied away from other public appearances.
Iranian state media has dismissed the allegations, referring to them as “unsubstantiated and malicious.”
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Nevertheless, U.S. intelligence agencies remain on high alert, particularly with the 2024 election approaching and growing concerns over Iran’s efforts to interfere with the democratic process.
It was recently revealed that the regime’s hackers targeted Trump’s campaign in June and July, obtaining secret documents. The hackers then tried to share the information with President Joe Biden’s campaign while he was still in the race. There is no evidence that the Biden campaign acted on the information.
This development comes after two individuals attempted to assassinate the former president. Neither of the incidents have been linked to Iran — thus far. However, Ryan Wesley Routh, the second would-be assassin, called on Iran to assassinate the former president in his writings. “You are free to assassinate Trump,” he wrote.
