Iranian state media released a propaganda video containing threats against First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump’s son Barron, escalating tensions between Tehran and the Trump administration.
The video, distributed by Tasnim News Agency-an outlet connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-surfaced this week with detailed imagery of locations frequented by the first lady in New York City. The roughly two-minute production included targeting graphics overlaid on luxury retailers and outlined plans for potential harm.
What the Video Contained
The clip displayed images of Melania Trump’s motorcade and specific shopping locations including Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue, with red circular targets superimposed on store signs. The video suggested the first lady’s shopping visits could be “suitable for operations by global freedom fighters” and proposed contaminating purchased clothing with VX nerve agent, an odorless chemical weapon.
The production identified three of Melania’s personal stylists and suggested bribing them to carry out such actions. At the video’s conclusion, threats extended to Barron Trump, who is 20 years old, with the narrator stating, “This is just the beginning. Barron Trump, wait for us.”
Security Response and Official Reaction
The Secret Service confirmed awareness of the video and stated it investigates all perceived threats to its protectees. Both Melania and Barron maintain full-time protective details, and all Trump family residences remain under heavy security.
The East Wing did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the video’s release. The video represents part of a larger campaign by Iranian authorities against the Trump family, with billboards appearing throughout Tehran calling for the death of President Trump and his relatives.
Broader Pattern of Threats
Last week, billboards appeared in Tehran featuring altered images of Melania, Barron, and Ivanka Trump with closed eyes and the word “KILLED” stamped across them. The phrase “Hey, terrorist! Get ready to die” accompanied the imagery.
The threats intensified following a joint U.S.-Israel operation that resulted in the elimination of Iran’s supreme leader and other senior regime figures. President Trump addressed the Iranian threats directly in recent comments to reporters, stating, “I’ve been on their list for a long time. That’s what we’re dealing with.”
Trump added that he had “left instructions-if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.” The president previously switched from a newly-constructed Air Force One to an older model when departing Turkey after a NATO meeting, citing security concerns related to Iranian threats.