A new report claims that President Joe Biden instructed the National Security Council to warn Iran that any assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump would be considered an act of war.
Fox News reported that Biden’s warning comes as the Trump administration has requested military aircraft capable of shooting down missiles to provide additional protection for the former president in light of the recent briefing the Trump campaign received about “big threats” against Trump’s life by Iran.
Last month, the White House avoided answering whether Biden would consider Iran killing Trump as an act of war, according to Fox News. However, the White House emphasized at the time that it would continue to keep the Trump team up to date on the latest threats from Iran.
Sean Savitt, a National Security Council spokesperson, said, “We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority, and we strongly condemn Iran for these brazen threats.” Savitt confirmed that the Iranian government was still seeking revenge for the Trump administration’s killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleiman in 2020.
According to Politico, the United States has spent roughly $150 million per year to protect U.S. officials, such as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who previously served as the head of U.S. Central Command, due to the threat of Iranian retaliation.
READ MORE: Trump reveals ‘big threats’ on his life by Iran
“We have ensured that appropriate agencies are continuously and promptly providing the former president’s security detail with evolving threat information,” Savitt said. “Additionally, President Biden has reiterated his directive that the United States Secret Service should receive every resource, capability and protective measure required to address those evolving threats to the former president.”
Trump previously suggested that Biden should warn Iran that it would be “blown to smithereens” if the U.S. adversary harmed a U.S. politician, according to Fox News.
As concerns have increased regarding the former president’s safety, the Trump campaign has asked the Biden administration to provide armored vehicles, additional flight restrictions for his residences and rallies, for additional funding for the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies to protect Trump, and for reimbursements for decoy aircraft.
Fox News reported that Biden told reporters on Friday that he would be willing to offer Trump military aircraft protection “as long as he doesn’t ask for F-15s.”
“Look, what I’ve told the department is to give him every single thing he needs for his – as if he were a sitting president,” Biden added. “Give him all that he needs. If it fits within that category, that’s fine.”
