WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – U.S. officials confirm a threat from Iran against former President Donald Trump prompted additional security just days before his assassination attempt.
They say it was unrelated to the shooting at Trump’s campaign rally, but the revelation only increases the scrutiny the U.S. Secret Service now faces.
“We have no evidence that those two are connected, but we do know that the enemies of this world do not want Donald Trump back in the White House,” said U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, (R-Mo.).
Alford said the U.S. has to remain vigilant against our adversaries.
“If they can help take him out, God forbid, that’s what they’re going to try to do,” he said.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations called the accusations “unsubstantiated and malicious.” However, U.S. officials say they have been tracking threats against Trump administration officials since Trump ordered the 2020 killing of a top Iranian general.
Members of Congress suggest there’s less concern about the Iranian threat itself and more about how the additional security resources did not prevent the assassination attempt.
“We’re investigating that,” said U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, (R-Texas.).
Van Duyne supports the work of the House Oversight Committee, which plans to hold the first Congressional hearing into the shooting Monday. The committee issued a subpoena to the Secret Service director to compel her to testify.
“We need to find out answers, and we’ve got to have them fast,” Alford said.
Alford also supports House Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to create a bipartisan task force to investigate the assassination attempt. Johnson plans to make that official Monday as well.