Donald Trump alleges big threats to his life from Iran, says death wish of attacker is to target him

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump alleged “big threats” to his life from Iran and that an attack on him was a “death wish” for the attacker. Trump made the claim after he survived two assassination attempts in two months.

The 78-year-old Republican was also briefed by US intelligence agencies on the “real and specific” threat to his life allegedly from Iran in a bid to “sow chaos” in the country, according to his campaign.

“Big threats to my life from Iran. The entire US military is watching and waiting. Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again. Not a good situation for anyone. I am surrounded by more men, guns and weapons than I have ever seen before,” he tweeted on Tuesday (local time).

“Thank you to Congress for unanimously approving far more money to Secret Service – Zero ‘No’ Votes, strictly bipartisan. Nice to see Republicans and Democrats get together on something. An attack on a former President is a death wish for the attacker!” he said.

Steven Cheung, Trump’s Campaign communications director said on late Tuesday night, “President Trump was briefed earlier today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilise and sow chaos in the US.”

“Intelligence officials have identified these ‘continued and coordinated’ attacks heightened in the past few months, and law enforcement officials across all agencies are working to ensure Trump is protected and the November election is free from interference,” Cheung said.

On July 13, Trump narrowly survived a shooting when a bullet grazed his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The second failed assassination attempt took place on September 15 when the former president was at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Ryan Wesley Routh (58), who was spotted outside the golf course with a gun, was charged on Tuesday for attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate.

The US presidential election will be held on November 5.

Last week, US government agencies claimed that Iranian hackers sent e-mails containing stolen material from Trump’s campaign to people involved in US President Joe Biden’s then re-election campaign. They alleged it was a part of a broader effort to meddle in the US election.

In August, the US accused Iran of launching cyber operations against the campaign of Trump and Harris. Tehran had denied the allegations.

(with inputs from PTI and Reuters)