United States authorities recently obtained intelligence from a human source about an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump, leading the Secret Service to increase security around the former president, according to multiple people briefed on the matter.
However, there is no indication that Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to kill Trump on Saturday, was connected to this plot.
The heightened security measures were implemented before the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the 20-year-old gunman accessed a nearby rooftop and fired shots, injuring Trump.
A US national security official confirmed that both the Secret Service and Trump campaign were aware of the threat.
“Secret Service learned of the increased threat from this threat stream,” the official told CNN. “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 to the increased threat, Secret Service surged resources and assets for the protection of former President Trump. All of this was in advance of Saturday.”
The Trump campaign refrained from commenting on whether it was aware of the Iranian threat, directing all inquiries to the Secret Service. Secret Service officials had previously warned the campaign about the risks associated with outdoor rallies, which pose greater challenges for security.
“The Secret Service and other agencies are constantly receiving new potential threat information and taking action to adjust resources, as needed,” said Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman. “We cannot comment on any specific threat stream, other than to say that the Secret Service takes threats seriously and responds accordingly.”
The FBI, currently investigating the Saturday shooting, declined to comment. NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that there is no known link between Crooks and any other individuals.
“The investigation of Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Trump is active and ongoing. At this time, law enforcement has reported that their investigation has not identified ties between the shooter and any accomplice or co-conspirator, foreign or domestic,” Watson said.
The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations denied any plot to assassinate Trump, stating, “These accusations are unsubstantiated and malicious. From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trump is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law for ordering the assassination of General Soleimani. Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice.”
Iran has vowed revenge for the US military’s killing of Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. Former Trump officials involved in national security have faced tight security since leaving office. In August 2022, the Justice Department announced charges against an IRGC member for attempting to orchestrate the assassination of John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser.
Mike Pompeo, Trump’s former Secretary of State, was also targeted by the plot, according to sources.
Another former national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, had a US government security detail due to threats from Iran but now pays for private security. Bolton still maintains his Secret Service detail.
For months, law enforcement has been concerned about Iran’s potential attempts to assassinate former Trump officials and Trump himself.
The recent intelligence indicated a significant uptick in this threat, coinciding with increased online messaging from Iranian accounts mentioning Trump, raising further security concerns among US officials.
