The youngest son of US President Donald Trump, Barron Trump, is also reportedly targeted by hardline circles of the Iranian regime, as a video broadcast by Iranian state television causes shock, directly raising the question: "Where to kill Barron Trump?". US secret services have already been mobilized, investigating the material as a potential threat against a member of the Trump family, in a dangerous new escalation of the conflict between Washington and Tehran. Hardline Iranian media have repeatedly featured content with threats against the life of Donald Trump and members of his family, following the assassination of Iran's former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as several members of his family, at the start of the US-Israel war with Iran in February. Although threats against the First Lady, Melania Trump, had been voiced in the past, this appears to be the first time Barron Trump has been publicly named and made a direct target.
"We are investigating every potential threat"
"The Secret Service is aware of the video and is investigating anything that could be construed as a threat against individuals under our protection," spokesman Nate Herring said in a statement to CNN. "For reasons of operational security, we do not discuss matters concerning security and protective intelligence," he added. The video, lasting nearly three minutes, begins with an English-language graphic reading: "Where to kill Barron Trump?". It then includes graphics with locations where the US president's youngest son is publicly known to frequent or spend time, including Trump Tower in New York.
Broadcast by state network IRIB
The video was broadcast over the weekend by the Iranian network IRIB, a state media outlet considered to be aligned with hardline circles of the Iranian regime. Indicative of the degree of political control is the fact that the head of the broadcasting organization is appointed directly by the supreme leader of Iran. A federal source in US law enforcement told CNN that this specific video is part of a broader campaign of Iranian videos targeting both Donald Trump and his family. Some of these videos, according to the same source, include details about the movements of the members of the US president's family, as well as suggestions on how to assassinate them.
Continuous changes in protective measures
According to the source, protective plans are constantly changing and adapting based on a wide range of security intelligence originating from the Secret Service, other US agencies, the police, as well as foreign countries. Donald Trump has publicly referenced the threats he receives from Iran. In July, he stated: "I'm on any list... So far, I guess I've been somewhat lucky, but maybe that won't last for long. They are evil and twisted people."
The secret escape from Turkey
The US president had made those specific statements during the NATO Summit in Turkey, shortly before secretly departing the country on an alternative military aircraft. As part of an elaborate deception operation, Donald Trump reportedly boarded the aircraft while hidden inside a catering truck. The operation was organized due to a specific Iranian threat. A person with knowledge of the matter told CNN that the threat involved a shoulder-fired missile and was so specific that American officials feared Donald Trump's life would be in tremendous danger if he boarded any version of Air Force One.
Iran's threats after the death of Qasem Soleimani
The US government has been warning for years that Iran might attempt to assassinate Donald Trump. The threats are linked to the 2020 US drone strike ordered by Donald Trump that resulted in the death of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. During the multi-day funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in July, regime supporters were seen holding banners with the phrase "Kill Trump," while a financial reward was offered to anyone who would avenge their leader's death. The anti-American demonstrations, featuring slogans such as "Death to America" and the burning of American flags, have been a staple of state-organized rallies in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought the theocratic regime to power.
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