U.S. intelligence agencies had been monitoring a potential Iranian assassination plot targeting former President Donald J. Trump in the weeks leading up to a recent incident where a gunman shot at Mr. Trump. Officials revealed that the threat was not believed to be directly related to the shooting incident that resulted in Mr. Trump being wounded.
The heightened intelligence prompted the Secret Service to increase security measures for the former president before his outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pa. Despite these precautions, a 20-year-old local individual managed to climb on top of a nearby warehouse roof and shoot at Mr. Trump, grazing his right ear. The assailant came dangerously close to causing significant harm.
The Trump campaign was made aware of the threat shortly before the shooting occurred, according to a source familiar with the situation.
The origins of the latest threat can be traced back to Iran’s longstanding desire for retaliation following the 2020 strike authorized by Mr. Trump, which resulted in the death of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani. Suleimani was a prominent Iranian security and intelligence commander responsible for numerous American troop casualties over the years. Previous reported threats from Iran targeted Trump administration figures such as Mike Pompeo and John R. Bolton, leading to ongoing government security measures even after their departure from office.
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, reiterated the persistent nature of Iranian threats against former Trump administration officials and emphasized the high priority placed on addressing these security concerns. She clarified that the Iranian plot was distinct from the assassination attempt in Butler, with law enforcement investigations thus far failing to uncover any connections between the shooter and potential collaborators.
During a White House briefing, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas alluded to an evolving threat landscape, citing both the increasing prominence of domestic violent extremism and the growing foreign threat environment.
Reported by CNN, the information regarding the Iranian threat sheds light on the complex challenges faced by U.S. intelligence agencies in safeguarding against potential risks to national security.
Contributions to this report were made by David E. Sanger and Maggie Haberman.
