WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face devastating consequences if any attempt were made on his life.
Speaking in an interview with American media, Trump was asked about alleged threats from Iran. He said he did not believe the Iranian government would take such a step, but added that he had already prepared a formal notification regarding the matter.
“If Iran kills me, the United States will completely destroy Iran,” Trump stated.
In a recent statement, Iran’s Supreme Leader had blamed President Trump for deaths and damages that occurred during recent protests in Iran.
Meanwhile, a few days earlier, former US ambassador Dan Shapiro claimed that Trump might attempt to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the coming weeks — a claim that further heightened tensions between the two sides.
The remarks have once again fueled concerns over escalating hostility between Washington and Tehran.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump’s plane was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after departing for Switzerland night due to a minor electrical malfunction, the White House confirmed. The decision was taken purely as a precautionary measure.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated that Air Force One landed back at Andrews Base around 0400 GMT following a brief flight. Journalists traveling with Trump reported that cabin lights went off for a few moments shortly after takeoff.
Despite the technical issue, Trump did not cancel his trip. Instead, he switched to a backup plane and departed again on Wednesday morning to attend the Davos Forum. The new aircraft left Andrews Base approximately two and a half hours after the initial flight.
Air Force One, widely regarded as one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world, has been in service since 1990 as a Boeing 747-200B.
Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the current planes, and delays in the delivery of new Air Force One aircraft had prompted his administration to explore alternative options. Reports also indicated that some of these options raised constitutional, ethical, and security concerns.
The incident caused only minor disruption, and Trump continued his schedule as planned, highlighting the precautionary protocols followed during presidential travel.
