Trump requests military jets on the campaign trail amid Iran threats

The Trump campaign has asked to use military planes and vehicles in the final weeks of the race amid concerns that Iran is plotting to kill the former president. Donald Trump has survived two recent assassination attempts and his officials have asked for a string of extra protections during the final month of campaigning, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Those include traveling on military jets, extra flight restrictions over his residences and events, and prepositioning ballistic glass in battleground states for open-air rallies. The requests are unprecedented for a presidential nominee.

But insiders say it would simply match the protection afforded the president or that given to Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, who flew on a military C-17 plane during his recent visit. President Joe Biden was asked about the request Friday. He said he had authorized security for Trump as if he were a sitting president, and if Trump’s request falls in that category it should be granted.

Trump insiders are particularly worried about the threat from drones or missiles. The requests were made by campaign manager Susie Wiles to the head of the Secret Service beginning the end of last month, and were first reported by the New York Times.

They came after Trump was forced to cancel a public event in Wisconsin, switching it for a press briefing in a smaller venue limited to journalists, because of a shortage of Secret Service agents. There is no evidence that the two assassination attempts were linked to Iran.

But last month the Trump campaign revealed it had been briefed on the threat from Tehran. ‘Big threats on my life by Iran,’ Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. ‘The entire US military is watching and waiting.

‘Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again.’ Since then, a Pakistani national has been charged in connection with a ‘murder-for-hire’ plot to assassinate a politician or government official.

F.B.I. Director Christopher Wray said it was ‘straight out of the Iranian regime’s playbook.’ Trump spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez declined to comment on the requests other than to say that the former president had frequently praised the work of his Secret Service detail.

Trump ally Rep. Mike Waltz has taken up the cause. He wrote to the Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, White House and Department of Defense, according to a source familiar with the matter. Options include flying Trump on a military C-17 plane or in one of the adapted 747s that operate as Air Force One. They are equipped with electronic countermeasures to jam hostile weapons systems as well as chaff and flares to defend against missiles.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Trump was already receiving ‘the highest level of protection.’ ‘Assistance from the Department of Defense is regularly provided for the former president’s protection, to include explosive ordnance disposal, canine units, and airlift transportation,’ he said.

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