Politico reporter Alex Isenstadt, in promotion of his upcoming book, "Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power," offered his account on Sunday in an exclusive to Axios that the Iran paranoia running through the 2024 Trump campaign was so strong that at one point, President Donald Trump took a decoy flight out of fear of being shot down.
The writer from Politico, a publication that's undergone scrutiny in recent weeks over its ties to government assistance, recalled that after the second assassination attempt on Trump at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course on Sept. 15, the "concern" about an alleged Iranian assassination plot "intensified."
Notably, no evidence has come forth indicating Iran had involvement in either assassination attempt.
Isenstadt wrote that last year, "Law enforcement officials warned Trump ... that Tehran had placed operatives in the U.S. with access to surface-to-air missiles."
The Politico reporter did not specify who these law enforcement officials were or what claim they made. Nonetheless, Isenstadt went on to add that "at one point soon after the" second assassination attempt in Florida, "Trump's security detail was concerned enough about the Iran threat that it had Trump travel to an event on a decoy plan[e] owned by Steve Witkoff."
Witkoff is a real estate mogul, Trump friend, and the president's envoy to the Middle East.
"Much of Trump's staff traveled on Trump Force One that day," Isenstadt continued, "infuriating some aides who worried they'd be 'collateral damage' if the jet were shot down."
From there, Susan Wiles, now Trump's chief of staff, rode with him, while Chris LaCivita, Trump's co-campaign chair alongside Wiles, rode on Trump Force One.
The plan to split travel was not told to the aides, with many realizing what was happening after takeoff.
"The boss ain't riding with us today," Isenstadt recalled LaCivita telling the group. "We had to put him into another plane. This is nothing but a sort of test for how things may happen in the future."
Aides told Isenstadt that the plane ride was a surreal experience, with many questioning if they were left for bait.
"This was some serious s***," one aide told Isenstadt after the plane ride.
"Campaign insiders" have said, per the Politico writer, that Trump may have more concern about Iran than he has publicly led on.
Nick Koutsobinas ✉
Nick Koutsobinas, a Newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. A graduate from Missouri State University’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship.
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