Since the joint US-Israeli strikes in February 2026 that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous senior officials on the first day of the war, a revenge plot targeting Donald Trump has been considered plausible. The US administration’s recent covert operation to discreetly remove Trump from Air Force One in Turkey last month underscores the seriousness of the Iranian threat, surprising many in Washington, including aides and journalists who remained on the plane and may have been at risk of an Iranian missile strike.

Experts note that these are not the first assassination attempts reported against Trump or his close associates. Colin P Clarke, executive director of The Soufan Center, criticized the extreme protective measures taken for Trump that potentially endangered others, calling it “not a good look” and suggesting it might portray weakness. Clarke also pointed out that the threats date back to before the war, referencing Trump’s first administration’s approval of the strike that killed Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Manhattan federal prosecutors revealed in 2024 that the Iranian government had ordered an operative to kill Trump during his presidential campaign due to his role in Suleimani’s killing. In July 2026, Israel shared intelligence with the US indicating that Iran had developed a new plan to assassinate Trump.

Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow on counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized that Iran takes revenge seriously and that Suleimani’s killing has triggered significant threats. Clarke added that despite perceptions among some Americans that the conflict is winding down, it is far from over, citing Iran’s historical patience in orchestrating attacks such as the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina.

Clarke warned that even a ceasefire or peace deal would not eliminate Iran’s desire to kill Trump, and the threat will persist as long as Trump is alive, whether in office or not. While no successful attacks have occurred on US soil, the determination remains.

Sources