In a significant move, President Joe Biden has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that any attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump or other former U.S. officials will be treated as an act of war. The strong statement, delivered through U.S. National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett, underscores the rising tensions between the United States and Iran, particularly in light of ongoing threats targeting Trump and several of his former senior officials.
According to a report from The Washington Post, the U.S. government has been closely monitoring Iranian threats against Trump for years. Despite this long-standing tension, Biden’s recent remarks indicate that the administration is taking these threats with renewed urgency, especially as intelligence points to potential Iranian plots against Trump, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook, the Trump administration’s special representative for Iran.
In a clear message to Iran’s leadership, Savett warned that any attack on current or former U.S. officials would result in “severe consequences.” This statement comes after months of heightened concern over Iran’s actions, including the disclosure that Bolton, Pompeo, and Hook are all under government protection due to credible threats against their lives.
“Should Iran attack any of our citizens, including those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences,” Savett said. He further emphasized that Biden had sent a direct message to the “highest levels” of the Iranian government, instructing them to immediately halt any plotting against U.S. figures.
Biden’s warning comes amid long-standing hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, which have intensified since the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Iran has since vowed retaliation against Trump and his allies for Soleimani’s death, and there have been several reports of assassination plots directed at Trump and other former U.S. officials.
Notably, the Associated Press reported in September that the FBI had briefed Trump’s campaign team about “real and specific” threats against the former president. The threats were believed to be linked to Iran, with U.S. intelligence and law enforcement closely monitoring the situation. According to a statement by Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung, the meeting included information on attempts to destabilize the U.S. through assassination plots targeting Trump.
Despite these serious concerns, media outlets like Reuters initially cast doubt on the veracity of Trump’s claims, stating that he had implicated Iran “without evidence” in assassination attempts against him. However, the FBI’s acknowledgment of credible threats, and Biden’s recent warning to Iran, have validated concerns about Trump’s safety.
The U.S. government’s relationship with Iran has been fraught with challenges, especially under Biden’s leadership. While Biden has pursued diplomatic engagement with Tehran, including unfreezing billions in Iranian assets and attempting to revive the nuclear deal, the ongoing threats against U.S. officials have complicated these efforts. Critics of the administration, including some Republican lawmakers, have expressed concern that Biden’s willingness to negotiate with Iran has emboldened the regime to continue its aggressive behavior.
Biden’s latest statement marks a sharp shift from the diplomatic tone his administration had been attempting to strike with Iran. By labeling any assassination attempt on Trump as an act of war, Biden is signaling that the U.S. will not tolerate such actions, regardless of any ongoing negotiations with Tehran.
The timing of Biden’s warning has raised questions, particularly given that the threat from Iran has existed for several years. Some commentators have speculated that the recent uptick in concern could be politically motivated, especially as Biden faces mounting criticism over his administration’s foreign policy and handling of the Iran situation.
The timing is also noteworthy given that previous assassination attempts on Trump were reportedly carried out by individuals radicalized by domestic political rhetoric. In 2020 and 2021, two separate attempts on Trump’s life were thwarted, both involving left-wing extremists fueled by media attacks on the former president.
Yet, Biden’s focus on Iran now brings the international dimension of the threats into sharper relief. It’s clear that while radicalized domestic actors have posed threats to Trump, the Iranian government remains a formidable foreign adversary with the resources to carry out such plans.
President Biden’s warning to Iran marks a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran relations, particularly regarding the safety of former President Trump and his allies. As threats from Tehran persist, the Biden administration has made it clear that any assassination attempt on U.S. soil will be met with serious consequences, potentially even military retaliation.
As the 2024 election looms, and with Trump continuing to play a major role in U.S. politics, the safety of former officials will remain a key concern. The question now is whether Biden’s warning will deter Iran from its threats—or whether further confrontation is inevitable.
