Iranian Plot Against Trump Found; Not Tied to Rally Shooting

On Tuesday, multiple sources reported that the Secret Service had significantly increased security for former President Donald Trump following intelligence about a suspected Iranian assassination plot. The plot, which emerged in recent weeks, appears to be unrelated to the shooting incident that occurred during Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

According to detailed reports from CNN and The New York Times, U.S. intelligence agencies had recently gathered information suggesting that Iran was plotting an attack against Trump. This intelligence led to enhanced security measures being implemented ahead of Trump’s scheduled rally in Butler. Despite the heightened alert, it has been confirmed that there is no connection between the Iranian plot and the shooting incident that took place at the rally. The shooting, which resulted in a bullet grazing Trump’s ear, is attributed to 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

The alleged Iranian plot is reportedly linked to Trump’s controversial decision in 2020 to order the assassination of Major General Qassim Suleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to an unnamed source, the White House National Security Council had informed the Secret Service about this evolving threat, prompting the agency to notify the Trump campaign prior to the rally.

The Secret Service has stated that it continuously receives and evaluates new threat information and that it responds to all threats with appropriate measures. However, the agency declined to provide specific details about the Iranian plot or the security protocols in place for Trump’s event.

The shooting incident at the rally remains under thorough investigation. During the event, which took place in Butler, a rural city north of Pittsburgh, Trump was struck by a bullet that grazed his ear, causing him to fall to the ground and appear with blood on his face. Despite the chaotic scene, Trump was able to raise his fist and shout “fight” to his supporters before being swiftly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents. He was subsequently taken to a nearby medical facility for evaluation, where he was reported to be in stable condition. The shooter, who was killed by Secret Service agents, had injured several people and caused one death at the rally. In his first statement after the incident, Trump expressed his gratitude to the Secret Service and law enforcement for their quick response, detailing in a Truth Social post that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”

The shooting has raised concerns about how the gunman was able to position himself on a rooftop nearby, despite warnings from spectators who had spotted him with a rifle and alerted police. Crooks allegedly used an AR-15 during the attack, and his actions have led to questions about the adequacy of security measures at the event.

The motive behind the shooting remains a mystery. Although several details about the shooter, including his identification through DNA and the use of his father’s registered gun, have emerged, his motivations are still unclear. Crooks, a registered Republican and a student described as quiet by his classmates, had not previously been flagged by the FBI. In a press conference on Sunday, President Joe Biden noted that there was “no information” available regarding the gunman’s motive.