President Donald Trump late Friday night escalated threats against Iran, posting on Truth Social around 11:20 p.m. that he had already ordered military action should Tehran attempt to assassinate him.
“1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote, “with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, pronounced in many corners of the Globe, to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, the sitting President of the United States of America, in this case, ME!”
The inflammatory posts appeared to respond to a Wall Street Journal report Thursday that Israeli intelligence had shared information with the U.S. suggesting Iran developed a new assassination plot against Trump. Iran has repeatedly vowed retaliation for Trump’s 2020 assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani during his first term.
Trump claimed military orders had already been issued. “Orders have already been given, and the U.S. Military is ready, willing, and able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran,” he stated.
The threat comes as the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict faces renewed scrutiny. A CNN investigation last week revealed that senior U.S. military commanders had bypassed critical intelligence warnings that target data was severely outdated, leading to a strike that killed 168 children in an Iranian school. According to unnamed sources, the commanders made the decision to ignore the warnings for “expediency” at the war’s outset, which directly contributed to the strike on the school.
Trump concluded his tirade with the phrase “PRAISE BE TO ALLAH!”
The U.S.-Iran war that began in early 2026 marked a major escalation in tensions between the two nations, stemming from longstanding hostilities that intensified after Trump’s first term. The conflict was initiated by U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets, though the exact trigger remains contested. What began as targeted operations quickly expanded into sustained military engagement, with both sides exchanging strikes across multiple fronts.
The assassination of Qassem Soleimani in January 2020 during Trump’s first presidency remained a flashpoint for Iranian retaliation efforts. Soleimani, one of Iran’s most powerful military commanders, was killed in a targeted drone strike near Baghdad, an action that prompted widespread calls within Iran’s leadership for revenge against Trump personally.
The current conflict has already resulted in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Beyond the school bombing that killed 168 children, reports indicate widespread destruction across Iranian cities. The U.S. military presence has expanded throughout the region, with increased naval deployments and air operations continuing throughout 2026.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have largely stalled, with both sides hardening their positions. Iran has consistently denied assassination plots while accusing the U.S. of aggression, while the Trump administration has maintained a confrontational stance, threatening further military action and economic measures against Tehran.