The Secret Service warned Trump of an Iranian assassination plot
A few weeks before an assassin shot at Donald Trump on a Saturday, the Secret Service requested heightened alertness from Trump's team. The agency had received indications that the Republican was being targeted by Iran.
Before the attempted assassination on Donald Trump, a threat from Iran reportedly prompted the Secret Service to implement increased security measures for the former U.S. President. According to reports from U.S. networks CNN and MSNBC, when the Biden administration learned of the Iranian threat, the leading agent for Trump's protective detail and his campaign team were informed. The Secret Service also reportedly bolstered its resources to protect Trump.
Despite these additional measures, the attempted assassination on Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania could not be prevented. However, according to the latest investigation findings, the shooter had no known connections to foreign accomplices, Adrienne Watson, White House Press Secretary, stated.
Iran seeks revenge for Soleimani's murder
Watson explained that the U.S. government had been monitoring Iranian threats against the previous Trump administration for years. The threats stemmed from Iran's desire for retribution for the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. The former commander of the so-called Al-Quds Brigades was killed in January 2020 following a targeted U.S. drone strike in Baghdad, ordered by then-President Trump.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice filed charges against a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, who allegedly planned to assassinate the former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton. The incident did not occur. The prosecution suggested that this was a reprisal for Soleimani's murder. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also reportedly a target of an Iranian assassination plot, according to CNN.
As CNN further reported, the Secret Service had repeatedly warned Trump's campaign team against holding outdoor rallies where risks were harder to control. These warnings, however, were more general in nature.
The US Intelligence Agency had been monitoring potential threats against former President Donald Trump following the assassination attempt, as they believed Iran was seeking revenge for the death of General Qasem Soleimani. The attempted assassination on Trump during the 2024 United States Presidency Election campaign highlights the continued political tensions between the two nations. The Secret Service had been proactive in addressing these threats, even requesting heightened alertness for Trump's team before the initial attempt.
