US authorities recently obtained intelligence from a human source indicating a plot by Iran to assassinate Donald Trump, prompting the Secret Service to heighten security around the president. This information comes from multiple individuals briefed on the matter who spoke to CNN.
There is reportedly no evidence linking Thomas Matthew Crooks, the individual who attempted to assassinate Trump on Saturday, to the Iranian plot, according to sources.
The revelation of a threat from a foreign intelligence agency and the subsequent increase in Trump’s security raises questions about the security breaches at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Crooks, a 20-year-old, accessed a rooftop to fire shots, injuring the president.
A US national security official confirmed that both the Secret Service and Trump’s campaign were informed of the threat prior to the rally. “Secret Service learned of the increased threat from this threat stream,” the official told CNN. “The NSC directly contacted USSS at a senior level to ensure they tracked the latest reporting. USSS shared this information with the detail lead, and the Trump campaign was made aware of an evolving threat. In response, Secret Service surged resources and assets for Trump's protection ahead of Saturday.”
The Trump campaign declined to comment on the Iran threat, referring all inquiries to the Secret Service. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that additional protective resources were added to Trump's security detail in response to the increased threat.
Secret Service officials have consistently advised the Trump campaign against holding outdoor rallies due to higher security risks compared to controlled-access events. Previously, the campaign ceased spontaneous, unscreened events for security reasons, according to a source.
The FBI, currently investigating Saturday’s shooting, has not commented on the matter. NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that there is no known connection between Crooks and anyone else at this time.
Iran has vowed revenge for the US military's killing of Qasem Soleimani, leading to heightened security for former senior Trump administration officials. In August 2022, the Justice Department charged a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with plotting to assassinate John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, in retaliation for Soleimani’s death. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also a target of an Iranian assassination plot, according to sources.
Robert O’Brien, another of Trump’s former national security advisers, previously had a US government security detail due to Iranian threats. However, that detail was discontinued last summer, and O’Brien is now funding his private security. Bolton continues to have his security detail.
For months, law enforcement has been concerned about Iran's persistent threats against former Trump officials and Trump himself. Recent intelligence suggests a significant increase in this threat, coinciding with a surge in online messaging from Iranian accounts and state-backed media mentioning Trump, raising security concerns among US officials.
