Trump Says He Ordered Retaliatory Strike Plans if Assassinated by Iran

Former President Donald Trump stated he has left explicit instructions for the U.S. military to launch a massive strike against Iran if he is killed in an assassination attempt linked to Tehran. Trump made the disclosure in an interview with the New York Post on Friday, following reports that Israeli intelligence had warned of a new Iranian plot targeting him.

The revelation comes as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate, with Trump asserting he remains Iran’s top target after ordering the 2020 strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The stakes are heightened by recent threats and public calls for Trump’s death at high-profile events in Iran.

The White House confirmed ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran, even as both sides have exchanged military threats and accusations. Trump’s comments follow a series of incidents, including a July 2024 assassination attempt on him in Pennsylvania and renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s Retaliation Directive

Trump told the New York Post that he has been aware of Iranian threats for years and has taken steps to deter any assassination attempt. “The only thing is, I’ve left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before,” Trump said, referencing Iran’s longstanding efforts to target him. He emphasized that his status as Iran’s “number one” target has not changed, despite recent Israeli intelligence reports.

"I’ve been No. 1 [on Iran’s kill list] for a long time, and it’s the way life is, you know."

— Donald Trump, former U.S. president

Trump dismissed suggestions that Israeli intelligence had uncovered a new plot, stating, “No, no, Israel came up with nothing.” He reiterated that Iranian leaders have repeatedly sought his death since the Soleimani strike, and that threats have intensified following the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where banners and chants called for Trump’s assassination.

Iranian Threats and Public Calls

During the funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on July 6, 2026, mourners displayed banners and placards explicitly calling for Trump’s death. According to reports, some attendees shouted, “I swear by the blood of the Supreme Leader, Trump, we will kill you!” and women held signs reading “Kill Trump.”

Iran’s animosity toward Trump stems from his authorization of the January 2020 drone strike that killed Soleimani, a move that Tehran has repeatedly vowed to avenge. Trump referenced the cycle of Iranian leadership changes and threats against him during a press conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, saying, “They had leaders, they’re gone. Then they had another set of leaders, they’re gone. Now they have another set of leaders — they may be gone, who knows? And you know what? I may be gone too. Because I’m their No. 1 target — it’s out all over the place.”

Recent Escalations and U.S. Response

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified in recent days. Trump announced on Truth Social that he called off a ceasefire after Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump wrote Friday.

Domestically, Trump survived an assassination attempt in July 2024, when a bullet grazed his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The White House has confirmed that diplomatic channels with Iran remain open despite the heightened rhetoric and recent military incidents. Fox News Digital reported it reached out to the White House for comment on Trump’s statements and the ongoing threats.

Iranian officials have not publicly addressed Trump’s claims about his retaliatory instructions or the reported assassination plots. U.S. officials have not confirmed the existence of any formal military directive tied to Trump’s personal security, and the Pentagon has not commented on the matter.