US Kills Iranian Assassination Plotter Against Trump

Defense Secretary Hegseth says the leader of the unit behind the 2024 plot has been hunted down and killed.

Mar. 4, 2026 at 10:00pm

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The U.S. has killed the leader of an Iranian unit behind an attempted 2024 plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth said "Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh." The secretary did not name the individual, but said the killing was not the objective of the operation.

Why it matters

The 2024 assassination plot against Trump prompted increased security protection for the former president while he was campaigning. This latest action by the U.S. against Iran signals an ongoing escalation of tensions between the two countries.

The details

In the summer of 2024, U.S. intelligence indicated there was an Iranian threat to assassinate Trump. In November 2024, the Department of Justice charged an Iranian man who prosecutors said was tasked with surveilling and killing Trump to avenge the 2020 death of Qassem Soleimani, the top commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Soleimani was killed in a January 2020 U.S. drone strike directed by Trump.

  • In the summer of 2024, U.S. intelligence indicated there was an Iranian threat to assassinate Trump.
  • In November 2024, the Department of Justice charged an Iranian man for the assassination plot.

The players

Donald Trump

Former President of the United States.

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Secretary of Defense.

Qassem Soleimani

Top commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who was killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike directed by Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed. Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

“I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The U.S. submarine has also sunk an Iranian warship named the 'Soleimani' in the Indian Ocean, the first time a U.S. submarine has sunk a ship since World War II.

The takeaway

This latest action by the U.S. against Iran signals an ongoing escalation of tensions between the two countries, with the U.S. taking aggressive steps to target Iranian figures and assets in response to the 2024 assassination plot against former President Trump.