Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States indicating that Iran has developed a fresh plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The intelligence, which surfaced in recent days, marks an escalation in the ongoing threats against Trump, who Iran has repeatedly vowed to retaliate against over the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
The White House referred questions to Trump's remarks on Wednesday, when he addressed the threat during a public appearance. "They want to take out the U.S. leader — me. I'm on whatever list. I saw this morning I'm on every single one of their lists," Trump said. "And, so far, I guess I've been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn't last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer."
The reported plot comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations following recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which were followed by a fragile ceasefire. Iran has publicly vowed for years to retaliate against Trump for the operation that killed Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force, in January 2020. The threat has persisted through multiple administrations, with U.S. intelligence agencies consistently monitoring Iranian efforts to target American officials.
According to the Journal, the intelligence was shared as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have diverged in recent weeks over how to proceed after last month's conflict with Iran. Netanyahu has advocated for continuing military pressure on Tehran, while Trump has sought to preserve the ceasefire after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Despite the reported differences, Trump and Netanyahu spoke on Thursday and agreed to continue coordination between the two countries, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office. The statement also said Trump updated the Israeli leader on recent U.S. activity in the Gulf.
The threat environment surrounding Trump has been particularly intense. In recent months, Iranian mourners at the funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei chanted for Trump's death and displayed a banner that read, "We Will Kill Trump," according to the Journal. Iran has consistently denied involvement in assassination plots against U.S. officials, but U.S. intelligence assessments have repeatedly pointed to Iranian efforts to target former and current American leaders.
The development also comes amid a broader debate in Washington over the scope of presidential war powers and the nature of the U.S.-Iran conflict. During a recent CNN debate, former Trump White House aide Caroline Sunshine questioned why the decades-long conflict between the U.S. and Iran was not widely taught in schools, prompting conservative commentator Scott Jennings to respond, "I'm sorry you don't read much." The exchange highlighted the lack of public awareness about the nearly five-decade-long tensions between the two nations, which have included hostage crises, proxy wars, and direct military confrontations.
U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the specifics of the intelligence shared by Israel, but the report underscores the ongoing threat posed by Iranian retaliation efforts. The U.S. Secret Service has been briefed on the intelligence and has taken additional security measures to protect the president, according to sources familiar with the matter. The White House has not released further details about the plot or the steps being taken to counter it.
Iran's Mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Israel's Embassy in Washington also declined to comment on the intelligence report. The situation remains fluid, with U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies continuing to monitor Iranian activities closely.
