US Intelligence Unable to Verify Israeli Warnings of Iranian Plots Against Trump

The United States has received multiple warnings from Israel over the past year alleging that Iran intended to assassinate President Donald Trump, though US intelligence officials could not independently verify these claims. According to a current US official and two former officials, the warnings included potential plots involving a sniper or a knife attack at a public event. These tips began before the 12 day war in June 2025 and increased before the US decision to go to war in Iran in February.

The most detailed warning occurred before a NATO summit in Ankara in July. Israeli officials informed the White House that Iran might attempt to kill the president with a shoulder launched missile while he traveled on Air Force One. A Turkish official stated that Turkey's intelligence agencies also lacked evidence to corroborate this claim. Despite the lack of verification, the Secret Service and White House officials conducted a deception operation during the Turkey trip, moving President Trump from Air Force One to a different aircraft for his departure.

While the US intelligence community agrees that Iran seeks retaliation for the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, the CIA has been unable to corroborate specific threats shared by Israel since early last year. This tension extends to broader assessments, such as when US agencies found Iran was not actively building a nuclear weapon while Israel argued the threat was urgent. President Trump proceeded with strikes in Iran in February, taking into account the Israeli intelligence regarding assassination attempts.

A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy denied that Israel is using intelligence to influence US policy. The White House and CIA declined to comment, while Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated the agency continues to analyze information to guide protective operations.