President Donald Trump told the New York Post on Friday that he has left explicit instructions for the U.S. military to bomb Iran at levels the country has never experienced if he is assassinated. The remarks come as the administration faces growing pressure over its Iran policy and a fragile ceasefire collapses.
“I’ve been on their list for a long time. That’s what we’re dealing with,” Trump said in the interview. “The only thing is, I’ve left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.”
The president’s comments follow a Wall Street Journal report that Israel shared intelligence with the U.S. about a new Iranian plot to kill Trump. However, CNN reported that U.S. officials believe the Israeli intelligence may have been aimed at pushing Trump toward a more aggressive military posture, as Israel has lobbied for deeper U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Trump has so far favored negotiations, but on Friday he declared the ceasefire with Iran “over.”
Trump disputed the existence of a fresh plot, saying, “No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no. I’ve been No. 1 [on Iran’s kill list] for a long time, and it’s the way life is, you know.” The threat dates back to the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, which Tehran has vowed to avenge.
During funeral processions this week for slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported that mourners chanted “Death to America” and carried banners reading “We Will Kill Trump.” The president’s security concerns were evident at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, where he told reporters, “I’m their No. 1 target because they’re scum.” His decision to travel on an older Air Force One model, rather than the newer one gifted by Qatar, also raised eyebrows, though the White House downplayed it.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have surged this week after the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes against 90 targets inside Iran on Wednesday, following Tehran’s attacks on shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump claimed Iran had asked to continue peace negotiations, but he responded by stating, “the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!”
Earlier in the week, Trump removed the U.S. waiver on Iranian oil sanctions, further escalating economic pressure. The administration’s hardline stance has drawn criticism from some former officials, including ex-Trump aide Coates, who dismissed the possibility of productive talks after the president’s “scum” remark.
The developments underscore a volatile period in U.S.-Iran relations, with Trump’s latest threat adding a new dimension to the ongoing confrontation. As the president faces potential assassination risks, his military orders signal a readiness to retaliate with overwhelming force, should the worst occur.
