ISRAEL has shared intelligence with the United States regarding what officials described as a new and specific Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, US media reported on Thursday.
The reports emerged amid renewed military exchanges between Washington and Tehran that have raised fears of a return to a wider Middle East conflict, while questions were also raised over Trump's decision to use an older Air Force One aircraft for his return journey from Turkey following the NATO summit.
CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that US authorities had been monitoring a "steady drumbeat" of intelligence regarding possible Iranian plans to target Trump, but that the warning from Israel involved a new and specific threat.
The Wall Street Journal, also citing unnamed sources, reported that the intelligence indicated a "fresh" assassination plot.
Iran has repeatedly threatened retaliation against Trump over his decision during his first presidential term to authorise the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
When contacted about the reports, the White House referred to Trump's remarks on July 8, when he suggested that Iran remained a threat to him personally.
"They want to take out the US leader – me. I'm on whatever list. I saw this morning I'm on every single one of their lists," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from the NATO summit.
The reports also followed scrutiny over Trump's decision to leave Turkey using the older Air Force One aircraft instead of a newly acquired Qatari-donated jet that had accompanied him during the trip.
Trump's new aircraft was sent ahead to Britain, where he later switched planes before continuing his journey to Washington.
The unusual arrangement sparked speculation that security concerns, including the aircraft's protective capabilities, may have influenced the decision, particularly as the United States had launched fresh strikes against Iran, which shares a border with Turkey.
The New York Times reported that the aircraft switch was made at the request of the US Secret Service as a security precaution.
Trump avoided directly addressing questions about the aircraft's security features but referenced previous alleged assassination attempts linked to Iran, highlighting the heightened security concerns surrounding his movements amid escalating tensions in the region. - July 10, 2026
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