Israel shared intelligence with the United States this week about a new and “specific” plan by Iran to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to multiple US media reports.
The warning, first reported by CNN and The Wall Street Journal, described a “fresh” plot that US intelligence agencies had not been tracking before the Israeli alert. One source told CNN that Washington has monitored “a steady drumbeat” of intelligence about possible plans to assassinate Trump, but the warning from Israel was new and concerned a specific plot.
The White House declined to comment directly, pointing instead to Trump’s remarks from Wednesday: “They want to take out the US leader – me. I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists”.
The Plane Switch That Raised Eyebrows
The intelligence may explain why Trump chose to switch planes when leaving the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this week. Trump used his old Air Force One plane to leave Turkey, sending his new Qatari-gifted jet on ahead to Britain, where he switched planes for the journey to Washington.
The New York Times reported that the switch was made at the request of the US Secret Service “as a security precaution”. The move sparked speculation about whether the new jet lacked sufficient security features, particularly as the US launched fresh strikes against Iran, which borders Turkey.
The Motive: Revenge for Soleimani
Tehran has for years vowed to hit back at Trump for ordering the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, during his first term. The warning also follows funeral events for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where crowds chanted for Trump’s death and a banner reading “We Will Kill Trump” was displayed.
US officials have long warned that Iran could attempt to target Trump in retaliation for the Soleimani strike.
The Political Context
Some American officials believe the Israeli intelligence may also be aimed at shaping Trump’s thinking as he considers whether to step up US military action against Iran. The relationship between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become increasingly strained over the future of the war, with Netanyahu pushing for increased military intervention while Trump initially sought to preserve the fragile ceasefire.
US intelligence agencies continue to monitor several individuals who have discussed possible attacks on current and former American officials, although no action has been taken.
The Bottom Line
Israel shared intelligence with the US about a specific Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump, according to multiple US media reports. The warning was described as “fresh” and “specific.” Trump switched planes on his return from the NATO summit in Turkey at the request of the Secret Service as a security precaution. Iran has long vowed retaliation for the 2020 killing of General Soleimani. The warning comes as the fragile US-Iran ceasefire continues to fray.
