Trump Suggests Iran Behind Assassination Attempts

Former President Donald Trump recently suggested that Iran may be linked to two assassination attempts against him this year, although he did not provide any supporting evidence for this claim. He made these remarks during a campaign event in Mint Hill, North Carolina, asserting that foreign leaders were unhappy with his tariff policies.

So far, authorities have not confirmed any connections between the attempted assassins in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July and near Trump’s home in Florida earlier this month to foreign agents. Trump connected these incidents to alleged Iranian hacking of his campaign, a claim backed by U.S. intelligence agencies.

“There have been two assassination attempts on my life — that we know of,” Trump stated, speculating that Iran could possibly be involved, though he emphasized uncertainty. He later reiterated his concerns about threats from Iran via social media, mentioning heightened military vigilance.

The Trump campaign acknowledged a recent briefing with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding specific threats from Iran, aimed at causing disruption in the U.S. However, a spokesman for the ODNI confirmed the briefing without disclosing further details.

During his North Carolina address, Trump praised bipartisan efforts in Congress for increasing funding for the U.S. Secret Service. He also expressed that, should he be in a position of power, any threats from foreign nations would be met with severe retaliation. “I would inform the threatening country that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities… to smithereens,” he declared.

Regarding the Butler incident, the identified gunman, Thomas Crooks, was killed by law enforcement at the scene. In Florida, Ryan Wesley Routh faces charges of attempted assassination against Trump.

Trump attributed the assassination attempts to his policies on tariffs, stating that such positions have made him a target for foreign adversaries. He claimed, “This is why people in countries want to kill me,” linking his actions to economic repercussions, particularly for U.S. manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris offered a contrasting economic perspective during her own speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Acknowledging high prices, she emphasized her commitment to fostering innovation and taking a middle-class-centric approach.

Harris criticized Trump’s policies, labeling them as favoring the wealthy. She vowed to prioritize fairness and opportunity in her presidency, ensuring her administration would engage in diverse problem-solving strategies.

On the immigration front, Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, alleged that undocumented immigrants are contributing to job losses for U.S. citizens. Trump asserted, “The jobs are going to illegal migrants… Our Black population, our Hispanic population, are losing their jobs.” Vance echoed this sentiment, claiming that illegal labor undermines American wages.

Despite harsh rhetoric, official statistics estimate approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S., contrasting Vance’s inflated figure of 25 million as net job growth under the Biden administration, which he attributed solely to foreign workers.

Looking ahead, Trump announced plans to revisit Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of the earlier assassination attempt. He intends to deliver a follow-up speech, particularly after a recent Senate report critiqued the Secret Service’s inadequate security measures during the rally where the incident occurred.