Netanyahu Claims Iran Targeted Trump, Faces Challenge

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Iran orchestrated two attempts to assassinate former President Donald Trump drew a challenge from Fox News host Bret Baier during a recent interview. Netanyahu asserted Iran’s involvement, citing a pattern of hostility including the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing, attacks on American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a plot to bomb a Washington D.C. restaurant. He framed the issue as a global security concern, questioning whether the international community would allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons given its alleged history.

Baier directly questioned the assertion of Iranian involvement in the alleged assassination attempts on Trump, pressing Netanyahu for concrete intelligence. Netanyahu responded that the attempts were carried out “through proxies” and with Iranian intelligence support, characterizing Trump as “enemy number one” due to his decisive leadership. He also noted a previous attempt on his own life, downplaying it by stating he was Trump’s “junior partner.”

The claims regarding attempts on Trump’s life stem from incidents during the 2024 campaign involving two U.S. citizens. However, law enforcement officials have yet to publicly connect these incidents to the Iranian government.

While Netanyahu’s rhetoric underscores the deep-seated animosity between Israel and Iran, and highlights legitimate concerns about Iran’s regional ambitions, his claims regarding direct Iranian orchestration of assassination attempts remain unsubstantiated based on currently available public information. Baier’s challenge was a necessary step in holding the Israeli Prime Minister accountable for providing evidence to support such a serious accusation. The interview underscores the delicate balance between acknowledging genuine security threats and avoiding inflammatory statements that could escalate tensions further.