Iran’s 2024 assassination threat against Donald Trump was more serious than widely known, forcing his team to take extraordinary precautions, including a decoy plane. In an exclusive for Axios, Alex Isenstadt previews his upcoming book, Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power, revealing how these threats reshaped Trump’s campaign, security measures, and rhetoric—underscoring the ongoing fallout from his 2020 strike on Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
More from the Axios exclusive:
- Law enforcement officials warned Trump last year that Tehran had placed operatives in the U.S. with access to surface-to-air missiles.
- Trump’s team feared the Iranians could try to down his easily recognizable personal jet—better known as “Trump Force One”—as it was taking off or landing.
- Concerns escalated after a foiled assassination attempt at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 15.
In one tense episode, now called the “Ghost Flight,” Trump’s security team arranged for him to travel on a decoy plane, fearing an attack from surface-to-air missiles—without most of his staff knowing.
- But at one point soon after the Florida incident, Trump’s security detail was concerned enough about the Iran threat that it had Trump travel to an event on a decoy plan owned by Steve Witkoff. He’s a Trump friend and real estate executive who’s now Trump’s envoy to the Middle East.
- “Much of Trump’s staff traveled on Trump Force One that day—infuriating some aides who worried they’d be ‘collateral damage’ if the jet were shot down.”
- “Co-campaign managers Susie Wiles—now White House chief of staff—and Chris LaCivita decided to split up. Wiles traveled on Witkoff’s plane with Trump, while LaCivita joined staffers on Trump Force One.”
- “Many aides on Trump’s jet didn’t learn about the hush-hush plan until just before takeoff, when they realized Trump’s window seat was empty.”
In another alarming moment, the Secret Service realized they were being followed in Pennsylvania.
- “During a trip to Pennsylvania the next week, Secret Service agents noticed a drone following Trump’s motorcade.””Officers in one of the cars opened up the moonroof and shot it with an electromagnetic gun, disabling it.”
Trump has been known for lashing out at Iran, saying only a few days ago he would “obliterate” them. With this new information coming to light, one can understand Trump’s anger towards the rogue country.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY