The Wall Street Journal posted that Israeli intelligence has shared with the U.S. indications of a fresh Iranian plan to kill President Trump, people familiar with the matter said.
Iran, for years, has vowed openly to retaliate against Trump for the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, who was the commander of the Quds forces in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in January of 2020.
Donald Trump Pointing in Speech. Image Credit: White House.
The president stated that he was a target as he was leaving the NATO meetings in Ankara, Turkey, earlier this week.
“They want to take out the US leader — me,” Trump said on Wednesday.
“I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning that I’m on every single one of their lists. 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. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”
Iranian mourners at the funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei chanted for Trump’s death and displayed a banner that said, “We Will Kill Trump,” according to the WSJ.
This latest news was probably the reason the Secret Service switched President Trump’s departure from the newer Air Force One, a gift from Qatar, to the older aircraft.
President Donald Trump delivers the Commencement address at the graduation ceremony for the University of Alabama, Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
This is because it is believed that the older model has more and better defensive measures than the newer model.
However, President Trump denied security concerns were the reason for the switch.
He said on his Truth Social page that he would use an older Air Force One aircraft “for old time’s sake” to fly from Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in Britain, while the new plane would stop at the same base so US service members stationed there could tour the aircraft.
Will The Intelligence Of The Plot Influence Further Military Action?
CNN reported that one source said the US was warned about the plot this week. Another reported source said the US had been receiving constant intelligence in recent weeks about possible plans to assassinate the president, but the warning from Israel was new and concerned a specific plot.
However, other American officials suggested the Israeli report could be an effort to sway the Trump administration’s decision-making to intensify the bombing campaign against Iran and loosen the strings on Israel’s operations in southern Lebanon against the Iranian proxy Hezbollah.
CNN added that the intelligence community is tracking several actors who have discussed attacks but haven’t taken action, and one source said that US intelligence agencies have been concerned that Iran would target a number of current and former senior officials.
But that source said that the US intelligence community is usually skeptical about Israeli intelligence reports.
US “Still Committed” To MoU, Despite Trump Saying It Was Over
Despite President Trump’s declaration that the ceasefire and the June Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran were “over”, U.S. officials have signaled that Washington remains committed to technical talks and finding a diplomatic resolution.
The MoU that was signed last month has come under serious strain in recent days with the U.S. and Iranian forces each conducting strikes this week, after Iran fired on three neutral ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “I don’t want to deal with them [Iran] anymore,” Trump said at the NATO summit earlier this week.
Trump told the media as he was leaving Turkey that Iran had called to make a deal to stop the renewed fighting and return to negotiations.
“They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worth making a deal with. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem,” he said.
In response to the Iranian attacks on the three ships in the Strait and the subsequent US airstrikes on Iran in retaliation, the U.S. Treasury Department subsequently withdrew a waiver that had allowed Iran to sell its oil.
Oil prices dropped slightly on Friday in Asian trading, with global benchmark Brent crude futures for September delivery easing to $76.30 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $71.87 per barrel.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
