The Secret Service has bolstered security measures for former President Donald Trump following intelligence about a potential Iranian assassination plot, according to multiple sources briefed on the matter who spoke to CNN. This development occurred weeks before an unrelated shooting incident at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
CNN reports that US authorities received information from a human source regarding Iran's alleged plan to target Trump. A US national security official confirmed that both the Secret Service and Trump's campaign were informed about the threat prior to Saturday's rally.
"Secret Service learned of the increased threat from this threat stream," the official told CNN. "NSC directly contacted USSS at a senior level to be absolutely sure they continued to track 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."
The Trump campaign declined to comment on the matter, directing all inquiries to the Secret Service. Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman, stated, "The Secret Service and other agencies are constantly receiving new potential threat information and taking action to adjust resources, as needed."
The incident at Saturday's rally, where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks allegedly fired shots that injured the former president, has raised questions about security protocols. Sources indicate that Secret Service officials have repeatedly cautioned the Trump campaign against holding outdoor rallies due to heightened security risks.
Adrienne Watson, NSC spokesperson, emphasized that there is currently no known connection 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.
Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations denied the existence of an assassination plot against Trump. A spokesperson for the mission told CNN, "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."
The alleged plot is believed to be in retaliation for the US airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in January 2020. Iran has consistently vowed revenge for Soleimani's death, and several former Trump administration officials have maintained heightened security measures since leaving office.
As investigations continue, the Trump campaign announced that the former president and Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, will hold their first official campaign rally together on Saturday at an indoor arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
