Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, saying the country would face devastating consequences if any attempt is made on his life.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with NewNation’s Katie Pavlich after she asked him about reported assassination threats aired on Iranian state television. The broadcast reportedly showed footage from Trump’s July 13, 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania—where he narrowly survived an assassination attempt—alongside a message suggesting a future attack.
Responding to the question, Trump said Iran should not be issuing such threats, adding that he had already made his position clear. He warned that any harm to him would trigger an overwhelming response against the country.
Trump also criticized his predecessor, President Joe Biden, accusing him of failing to respond forcefully when Iran allegedly issued threats against him and other former Trump administration officials. He argued that a sitting president has a responsibility to strongly defend current and former leaders in the face of such dangers.
Tensions between Iran and Trump have remained high since the January 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Other former U.S. officials, including ex–National Security Adviser John Bolton, have also reportedly faced threats linked to Iran.
Trump further claimed that he had given clear instructions that any attack on him would result in extreme retaliation. He said that while he prefers deterrence, firm action is necessary to prevent threats from escalating.
The comments come amid unrest in Iran, where protests over economic hardship and governance have reportedly led to thousands of civilian deaths, according to international reports. Trump recently suggested he had considered military action in response to the situation and earlier stated that the U.S. was prepared to act if the killings continued.
However, he later said he had been informed that the Iranian authorities had halted executions and violence against protesters, adding that he would be deeply displeased if that information turned out to be false.
When asked during a recent press conference whether military options were still under consideration, Trump said strong warnings had already been issued, claiming that planned executions had been called off following U.S. pressure.
“For now, we’ll have to see what happens with Iran,” Trump said, indicating that future actions would depend on developments on the ground.