Iran assassination attempt on Trump would be act of war, Biden admin says
U.S. President Joe Biden sits in his vehicle after holding a press conference during a tour of the damage caused by Hurricane Milton on October 13, 2024 (AFP Photo)
The Biden administration has privately communicated to Iran that any assassination attempt against former U.S. President Donald Trump would be considered an act of war, according to a report. Joe Biden, through his National Security Council (NSC), has warned Tehran against targeting Trump or any former members of his administration, following a surge in security concerns.
In a statement, NSC spokesperson Sean Savett confirmed, “We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority, and we strongly condemn Iran for these brazen threats. Should Iran attack any of our citizens, including those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences.”
The warning follows elevated tensions between the U.S. and Iran, driven in part by Iran’s continued interest in retaliating against Trump for his administration’s 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. While the White House has not publicly stated that such an attempt would be considered an act of war, sources cited by The Washington Post reveal that Biden, 81, has privately directed the NSC to convey this stance to Tehran.
Iran’s efforts to target Trump have reportedly escalated, with at least two assassination attempts thwarted in recent months. On July 12, Pakistani national Asif Merchant, 46, was detained by authorities for allegedly conspiring with Iranian handlers to assassinate the former president. This was followed by another attempt in West Palm Beach, where a suspect armed with an AK-47 waited for hours near Trump’s golf course before fleeing.
Iran has made no secret of its desire for retribution, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei promoting a 2022 video simulating a drone attack on Trump. Additionally, the Justice Department has unsealed charges against a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for attempting to kill Trump’s former National Security Adviser John Bolton, offering $300,000 for the hit.
Trump, 78, has publicly called for a more aggressive approach to deter Iranian threats, suggesting that the U.S. should “blow [Iran’s] largest cities and the country itself to smithereens” if any harm comes to him.
Biden has reportedly instructed U.S. agencies, including the Secret Service, to ensure Trump’s safety and provide constant updates on evolving threats. The former president, along with several high-ranking officials from his administration, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, have been subject to heightened security measures due to Iranian plots.
The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps to safeguard those linked to the Soleimani killing, including protecting Trump aides like Victoria Coates and Robert Greenway, whose emails were allegedly hacked by Iranian operatives after the strike.
As tensions continue to rise, the administration’s warning signals a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran relations, highlighting the ongoing security risks faced by former officials involved in the January 2020 strike on Soleimani.
