Trump denies Israel tipped US on Iran assassination plot against him
Synopsis
Trump publicly dismissed reports that Israel warned Washington of a fresh Iranian plot to kill him — yet in the same breath confirmed he has left instructions to 'bomb them at levels they've never seen before' if Iran succeeds. The denial contradicts reporting by the Wall Street Journal and CNN, and comes on the same day the US declared the Iran ceasefire over.
Key Takeaways
President Donald Trump on Friday denied that Israel had shared intelligence about an alleged Iranian assassination plot against him.
Trump told the New York Post : 'Israel came up with nothing.
No, no.' Trump confirmed he has 'left instructions' to 'bomb them at levels they've never seen before' if Iran succeeds in an attack.
The Wall Street Journal and CNN had both reported that Israeli intelligence recently warned US officials of a new Iranian assassination plan.
CNN noted the US had not independently verified the Israeli intelligence before receiving it.
The denial came the same day Washington notified Tehran the ceasefire was over, while saying negotiations would continue.
US President Donald Trump on Friday flatly rejected reports that Israel had shared intelligence with Washington about an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate him, even as he acknowledged being Tehran's long-standing top target and said he has left retaliatory instructions in place should such an attempt succeed.
Trump's Denial and Warning
'No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no,' Trump told the New York Post, dismissing the intelligence-sharing reports outright. However, in the same exchange, Trump did not downplay the broader threat — instead confirming he has prepared a response. 'I've been No. 1 on Iran's kill list for a long time, and it's the way life is, you know,' he said. 'I've left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before.'
What the Intelligence Reports Said
The reports Trump denied were published by The Wall Street Journal and CNN on Thursday and Friday. The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli intelligence had recently shared with US officials information indicating that Iran was considering a new plan to assassinate the president — a development the newspaper described as a significant escalation in the confrontation between the two countries.
CNN, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported that Israel had passed the warning to US officials, though the United States had not independently verified the intelligence before receiving the Israeli assessment. The White House, when asked for comment, directed both outlets to remarks Trump made at the NATO summit in Ankara, where he openly acknowledged remaining Tehran's principal target.
Ceasefire Ended, Talks Continue
The denial came on the same day Trump confirmed that his administration had formally notified Iran that the ceasefire was over, while also stating that Washington would continue negotiations with Tehran. The dual track — ending the ceasefire while keeping diplomatic channels open — reflects the complex and volatile state of US-Iran relations under the current administration.
Context and Escalation Pattern
This is not the first time Iran has been accused of plotting against Trump. US officials have previously charged Iranian operatives with planning attacks on American targets, including former officials. The latest episode, coming amid an active US military campaign against Iran, represents a notable intensification of that pattern. Notably, Trump's public acknowledgement at the NATO summit that he remains Tehran's 'number one' target preceded the intelligence reports by hours, raising questions about the sequencing of disclosures. Whether the Israeli intelligence prompted Trump's Ankara remarks or the remarks were coincidental remains unclear from available reports.
Point of View
Where he volunteered that he is Tehran's 'number one' target — comments made hours before the Wall Street Journal and CNN published the Israeli intelligence reports. If the intelligence was fabricated or overstated, the White House had every reason to say so clearly; instead, it redirected reporters to Trump's Ankara statement, which implicitly validated the threat even as Friday's denial rejected the sourcing. The more consequential detail is the retaliatory instruction Trump says he has left behind — a public pre-commitment to escalation that functions as both deterrence and, potentially, provocation. In a moment when the US has just declared the Iran ceasefire over, such statements carry operational weight that goes well beyond a media denial.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Trump say about the alleged Iranian assassination plot?
Trump denied that Israel had provided any intelligence about an Iranian plot to kill him, telling the New York Post 'Israel came up with nothing.' He did, however, confirm he has left retaliatory instructions in place, saying he would order Iran to be bombed 'at levels they've never seen before' if such an attack succeeded.
What did the Wall Street Journal and CNN report?
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Israeli intelligence had recently shared with US officials information indicating Iran was considering a new plan to assassinate President Trump. CNN, citing two sources, corroborated that Israel passed the warning to US officials, though the US had not independently verified it before receiving the Israeli assessment.
How did the White House respond to the intelligence reports?
The White House directed both the Wall Street Journal and CNN to remarks Trump made at the NATO summit in Ankara, where he acknowledged being Tehran's principal assassination target. No formal denial was issued by the White House itself before Trump's New York Post interview.
What is the current state of US-Iran relations?
As of Friday, the Trump administration had notified Iran that the ceasefire was over, while simultaneously stating that negotiations with Tehran would continue. The situation remains volatile, with an active US military campaign against Iran in the background.
Has Iran previously been accused of plotting against Trump?
Yes. US officials have on prior occasions accused Iranian operatives of planning attacks on American targets, including former officials. The latest reports, if accurate, would represent a significant escalation given that they emerged during an active military confrontation between the two countries.
