Donald Trump’s campaign deployed a decoy aircraft and split security teams to protect him from Iranian assassins during his 2024 presidential run, Axios reported on Sunday. Iran has targeted Trump since 2020, when as president he ordered an airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military leader.
US law enforcement warned Trump that Iranian operatives had smuggled surface-to-air missiles into the country, according to excerpts from Alex Isenstadt’s upcoming book “Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power” reviewed by Axios.
The campaign moved Trump onto a private plane owned by real estate executive Steve Witkoff after a foiled assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach golf course on September 15.
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Campaign staff unknowingly flew on Trump’s regular aircraft while the former president traveled on Witkoff’s plane. Campaign manager Susie Wiles accompanied Trump while co-manager Chris LaCivita flew with the staff, in what became known as the “Ghost Flight.”
Secret Service detected new threats after a September 18 rally on Long Island, warning that attackers might target Trump’s motorcade. A week later in Pennsylvania, agents shot down a surveillance drone tracking Trump’s convoy using an electromagnetic weapon.
Trump reduced his public mentions of ordering the 2020 airstrike that killed Soleimani as threats mounted, campaign insiders told Isenstadt.
Last week, Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran if its operatives killed him, but later softened his stance by calling for a “verified nuclear peace agreement.” He also imposed new sanctions on entities accused of shipping Iranian oil to China and restored a “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi rejected negotiations under Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy on Saturday, calling it “a form of surrender” rather than true diplomacy.
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