WASHINGTON D.C. (Mar 2, 2026) — Two days after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike, President Donald Trump claimed the Iranian leader had twice attempted to have him killed during the 2024 campaign.
“Justice for Americans”
In a phone call with ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl, Trump celebrated the operation, framing it as a preemptive act of self-defense.
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Personal Vendetta: “I got him before he got me,” Trump stated. “They tried twice. Well, I got him first.”
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Intelligence Context: The remarks refer to 2024 U.S. intelligence reports detailing an IRGC-backed plot to assassinate Trump, which led to federal charges against an Iranian asset, Farhad Shakeri.
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The “Evil” Label: On Truth Social, Trump labeled Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history” and characterized the strike as justice for Americans “mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty thugs.”
Call for Regime Change
Trump asserted that the Supreme Leader was unable to evade “highly sophisticated tracking systems” and urged the Iranian people to seize this “single greatest chance” to topple the current regime and take back their country.
The assassination has left Iran in a state of national mourning and heightened military alert, as the world watches for Tehran’s next move.
