Everything to know about the Donald Trump assassination plot by Iran | World | News

Official Confirmation: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced in a Pentagon briefing on March 4, 2026 that Iranian forces attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump. Hegseth stated that the United States successfully “hunted down and killed” the leader of the Iranian unit responsible for the operation.

Retaliation Context: The emergence of the plan followed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. President Trump claimed that Iran survived two separate assassination attempts, telling reporters, “I got him before he got me,” a reference to the Iranian regime’s proactive military stance against its leadership.

Operation Epic Rage: Hegseth emphasized that these events occurred alongside Operation Epic Rage, a joint US-Israeli operation designed to eliminate Iran’s military capabilities. He warned that the administration was “just beginning” to defeat and eliminate the regime’s ability to threaten American officials.

Air Superiority: The US military expects to gain full control of Iranian airspace within a week. Hegseth emphasized that the United States and Israel have the two most powerful air forces and that these forces will soon operate in uncontested airspace to ensure that no more plots are launched from Iranian territory.

History of Threats: Intelligence briefings on Iran’s assassination plans against Trump date back to 2024. These were described by the campaign as genuine and specific efforts to create chaos, leading to increased Secret Service funding and increased alertness for the President’s security.