Trump says he'd threaten to blow Iran 'to smithereens' over candidate threats
Former President Trump said Wednesday that he’d threaten to blow Iran “to smithereens” if he was back in the White House and a candidate faced threats from Tehran, comments that come after his campaign said he was briefed about Iran’s alleged assassination threats against him.
“If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country — in this case, Iran — that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens. We are going to blow it to smithereens,” Trump said at a campaign event in North Carolina.
The Republican nominee thanked Democrats in Congress for joining GOP lawmakers to pass legislation that would boost his Secret Service protection. The Senate advanced the legislation Tuesday after it unanimously passed the House last week, sending it to President Biden's desk for an expected signature.
Trump said he would take further action if he was in the White House.
"But right now, we don't have that leadership or the necessary people, the necessary leaders," Trump said, in an apparent dig at Biden.
The former president was grazed by a would-be assassin's bullet who opened fire at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., in July. Another suspect accused of planning to assassinate Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., this month has been charged. The suspects in both cases were U.S. citizens.
"As you know, there have been two assassination attempts on my life that we know of, and they may or may not involve, but possibly do, Iran, but I don't really know," Trump speculated at his campaign event Wednesday.
Trump's campaign had said Tuesday that the former president had been briefed by intelligence officials about alleged assassination attempts by Iran, referring broadly to "continued and coordinated" threats.
The Republican nominee said in a Truth Social post earlier in the day that “moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again.”
"Meanwhile, we have the president of Iran in our country this week, we have large security forces guarding him, and yet they're threatening our former president and the leading candidate to become the next president of the United States," Trump said.
Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, spoke to the United Nations General Assembly’s annual gathering in New York this week.
Trump is in North Carolina as polls show he and Harris locked in a near tie for the Tar Heel State, amid signs the battleground is shifting toward Democrats.
The former president has been touting his proposal to boost U.S. manufacturers through the use of tariffs. He addressed voters at the Mosack Group's facility in Mint Hill.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
-
CBS News - Top stories
Trump on warning to Iran for threatening political candidates
Former President Donald Trump addressed voters in North Carolina to discuss his economic policies Wednesday. During his remarks, Trump addressed reports of Iran targeting him and his campaign. ...2 hours ago - Donald Trump -
ABC News - Top stories
Trump lashes out at Iran as security officials warn of rise in foreign threats
Former President Donald Trump let out his ire over Iran at a rally Wednesday following reports from security officials that the country is targeting him.55 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Trump thanks Congress after measure increasing protection advances: ‘Big threats on my life by Iran’
Former President Trump thanked Congress after the Senate advanced legislation Tuesday that would boost his Secret Service protection after two assassination attempts, warning that there are big ...7 hours ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Politics
Trump briefed by intelligence officials about ongoing Iranian threats to assassinate him, campaign says
A campaign spokesperson said the former president was briefed on "real and specific threats from Iran" to kill him and to destabilize the November election.17 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Yahoo News - World
UN chief says sea level rise threatens 'rising tide of misery'
6 hours ago - United Nations -
Yahoo News - World
Iran's religious leader says Hezbollah will not fall
8 hours ago - Iran -
NBC News - Top stories
Sec. Blinken on Iranian threats to assassinate Donald Trump
Secretary of State Antony Blinken joins TODAY to discuss Donald Trump recently being briefed by intelligence officials about Iran’s threats to assassinate him. He also talks about Israel’s military ...9 hours ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Politics
Sec. Blinken on Iranian threats to assassinate Donald Trump
Secretary of State Antony Blinken joins TODAY to discuss Donald Trump recently being briefed by intelligence officials about Iran’s threats to assassinate him. He also talks about Israel’s military ...9 hours ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Top stories
GOP Senate candidate says it's 'a little crazy' older women are single-issue voters on abortion
Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno is facing a wave of criticism over his remarks about suburban women and abortion heading into the homestretch of the competitive race.16 hours ago - Abortion
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Ocasio-Cortez calls on Eric Adams to resign
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) urged New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign in a social media post on Wednesday, claiming that the investigations, resignations and vacancies surrounding ...15 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
Trump plans Oct. 5 rally at site of assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.
Former President Trump will return to the site of his attempted assassination earlier this year with a rally in Butler, Pa., the campaign announced on Wednesday. The Oct. 5 visit will mark Trump’s ...17 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
California expands housing for farmworkers
Welcome to The Hill's Sustainability newsletter {beacon} Sustainability Sustainability The Big Story California expands housing for farmworkers California farmworkers may soon have access to ...23 minutes ago - California -
The Hill - Politics
Alex Jones's Infowars to be auctioned off to help pay Sandy Hook families $1.5 billion
Alex Jones’s Infowars business will be auctioned off to help pay for the $1.5 billion settlement awarded to the families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a Texas ...28 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
Chappell Roan says she's voting for Harris, but 'not settling for what's been offered'
Pop star Chappell Roan said Wednesday in a TikTok post that she will vote for Vice President Harris, but not endorse the Democratic presidential nominee. “So, yeah, I’m voting for f—ing Kamala,” ...29 minutes ago