Trump’s Secret Security Measures Against Iran

Iran’s threat to assassinate Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign was far more serious than previously known. Newly revealed accounts indicate that Trump’s campaign and security team took extraordinary precautions—including using a decoy plane—to protect the former president from a potential Iranian attack.

A Credible and Escalating Threat

U.S. intelligence officials reportedly warned Trump’s team in 2023 that Iranian operatives had infiltrated the U.S. and had access to surface-to-air missiles. The primary concern was that Trump’s highly recognizable private jet, known as "Trump Force One," could be targeted during takeoff or landing.

The warnings intensified following a foiled assassination attempt at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024. While Iran was never officially linked to that incident or a separate shooting in Pennsylvania two months earlier—where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear—the threats were serious enough to dramatically alter his campaign security measures.

A Decoy Plane and the "Ghost Flight"

At one point, security officials were so concerned about a potential attack that Trump was secretly moved onto a decoy plane owned by real estate executive Steve Witkoff, a close friend who later became Trump’s envoy to the Middle East. Meanwhile, most of Trump’s staff remained on Trump Force One, unaware of the plan until moments before takeoff.

"The boss ain't riding with us today," campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita reportedly told aides on board. "We had to put him into another plane. This is nothing but a sort of test for how things may happen in the future."

The incident became known among campaign insiders as the "Ghost Flight." Many aides, frustrated at being left in the dark, worried they were being used as "collateral damage" if the plane were attacked. Some questioned why they were put on a potentially high-risk flight while Trump took the safer option.

Secret Service Measures and Other Close Calls

The Secret Service took additional measures to counter potential attacks:

They created a decoy motorcade, splitting up Trump and his staff.

After a rally on Long Island, New York, agents received intelligence that an attacker might attempt to shoot at Trump's motorcade.

During a trip to Pennsylvania, a drone was spotted following the motorcade. Secret Service agents responded by shooting it down with an electromagnetic gun.

The heightened security and near-miss incidents fueled paranoia and tension among Trump's campaign team. Campaign officials reportedly made dark jokes about being potential targets, leading to what some aides described as "gallows humor galore."

Trump’s Private Worries

Though Trump publicly boasted about ordering the 2020 airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, insiders noticed a change in his tone. As threats increased, Trump spoke less about Soleimani at rallies and became more cautious about event security.

Privately, he also worried about how constant assassination threats might affect public perception. He questioned whether voters would develop "assassination fatigue", wondering if Americans were willing to endure another four years of a president being under constant threat.

Trump’s Recent Comments on Iran

Now re-elected as the 47th president of the United States, Trump has continued to address the Iranian threat. Recently, he revealed that he had instructed his team to "obliterate" Iran if he were ever assassinated. However, he later tempered that statement, saying he would rather negotiate a "verified nuclear peace agreement" with Iran.

Iranian officials have long sought revenge for Soleimani’s killing, and the threats against Trump remain a significant security concern as he begins his second term in office.

Conclusion

The latest revelations offer a rare glimpse into the intense security risks Trump faced during his campaign and continues to face as president. While public focus remained on rallies and policy debates, behind the scenes, his team was working tirelessly to thwart potential attacks—including the use of decoy planes, secret motorcades, and high-tech countermeasures.

As Trump embarks on his second term, the question remains: Will the Iranian threat subside, or will it continue to shape his presidency, just as it did his campaign?