Donald Trump warned Iran that any successful assassination attempt against him would result in devastating military retaliation, stating he had “left instructions” for massive strikes against Tehran.
The former president’s warning came as U.S. officials have tracked multiple alleged Iranian plots targeting him over the past several years. Trump’s explicit threat represents a departure from the measured diplomatic language typically deployed by government officials in similar situations.
What Trump Said
“If anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before,” Trump said, according to his own account of instructions he claimed to have left. The warning connected Iran’s previous military losses, including strikes on nuclear sites and air defenses, to the implied threat of even greater consequences.
Legal experts noted that any instructions Trump may have issued would ultimately fall under the authority of whoever serves as sitting commander-in-chief at the time of any incident. Vice President JD Vance would hold that power if such circumstances arose during a Trump presidency.
The Security Backdrop
Trump’s warning emerged amid concrete security measures implemented in recent months. The president’s decision to switch from a new Air Force One aircraft to an existing model during a recent NATO visit has been attributed by observers to threat intelligence assessments.
Trump has survived three assassination attempts during his recent political career, a fact he referenced when explaining his security approach. Officials have also noted that border policies factor into threat assessments, with some saying immigration procedures created operational windows for potential Iranian operatives.
Years of Tensions
Iranian threats targeting Trump span a six-year period, with tensions intensifying following the 2020 death of Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike. Iranian officials have repeatedly invoked retaliation for that strike, maintaining it as a central grievance in U.S.-Iran relations.
The latest warning underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Trump as he navigates both personal threats and broader geopolitical tensions with Tehran.