Secret Service beefs up measures after reports of alleged Iranian threat on Trump, officials say
Plot appears unrelated to recent assassination attempt at rally, officials say
A threat from Iran prompted moves by the U.S. Secret Service to boost protection around Donald Trump before Saturday's attempted assassination of the former president, which appears unrelated to the original threat, according to two U.S. officials.
Upon learning of the threat, the Biden administration reached out to senior officials at the Secret Service to make them aware, the officials said, adding it was shared with the lead agent on Trump's protection detail and the Trump campaign.
That prompted the agency to surge resources and assets to protect Trump. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.
The additional resources did not prevent Saturday's attack at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania that injured Trump's ear, killed one rally attendee and severely injured two more.
"As we have said many times, we have been tracking Iranian threats against former Trump administration officials for years, dating back to the last administration," said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
"These threats arise from Iran's desire to seek revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani. We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority."
Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani, the Iranian general who led the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, in 2020.
"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 mission to the United Nations said in a statement the "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's statement said.
U.S. law enforcement officials were also warning of possible copycat attacks or election-related retaliation after Saturday's attempt on Trump's life, as a visibly stronger security detail surrounded President Joe Biden and Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received Secret Service protection.
Presidents — and presidential candidates — are always the subject of threats, but rhetoric online following the Saturday attack has been particularly concerning, "given that individuals in some online communities have threatened, encouraged, or referenced acts of violence in response to the attempted assassination," according to a joint intelligence bulletin by Homeland Security and the FBI and obtained by The Associated Press.
With files from Reuters