Nournews : Since attending the NATO summit in Türkiye, Donald Trump has introduced a new catchphrase into his political and media rhetoric, claiming that he is "on an assassination list" and that he is facing "a greater assassination threat than ever before."

At a time when Trump has escalated his rhetoric by issuing threats and accusations against participants at the NATO summit, challenging the existing international order, and making provocative statements against the Iranian nation while disregarding international norms, he has once again emphasized a narrative portraying himself as a victim under the threat of assassination.

A notable aspect of this development is the way the Israeli regime has sought to capitalize on this media and psychological environment. Reports have emerged claiming that Israel provided Washington with intelligence alleging that Iran was examining a new plot to assassinate Donald Trump. Combined with the failed assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania in July 2024—which Trump himself attributed to the Islamic Republic of Iran—these claims have transformed the issue of assassination from a purely security matter into an integral part of his political narrative.

The timing of these renewed allegations, alongside efforts by Israel to portray itself as Trump's indispensable security partner, comes as Trump faces domestic political challenges, electoral pressures, and declining popularity. At the same time, regional developments and what has been described as Iran's demonstration of political, military, and diplomatic strength have also contributed to shaping this media environment.

From this perspective, raising such claims is viewed as an attempt to redirect public attention and reconstruct a political narrative—one designed to portray Trump as a leader under constant threat while simultaneously laying the groundwork to justify potential future actions against Iran.

The Dream of Kingship Through Victimhood: Escaping a Crisis of Legitimacy

Trump and the Republican Party are preparing for the upcoming U.S. midterm congressional elections amid signs of growing political and social pressure. Declining approval ratings, domestic dissatisfaction, and concerns over electoral outcomes have created a difficult political environment for the U.S. president.

Trump's efforts to shape the political agenda through issues such as energy security, the Strait of Hormuz, and international developments have not fully produced the political climate he seeks. As a result, sudden and highly controversial initiatives aimed at influencing domestic public opinion have increasingly become part of his strategy.

Even a number of symbolic and media-oriented moves—including his involvement in sports and cultural issues—have failed to improve his public image and, in some cases, have generated greater criticism and negative reactions.

Against this backdrop, repeatedly emphasizing the threat of assassination may represent an effort to rebuild the image of a "leader standing firm in the face of danger"—an image that some observers compare to the political model Ronald Reagan cultivated during his presidency.

Israel's New Scenario: Using the Assassination Narrative to Restore Its Standing

The coincidence between Trump's renewed claims of assassination threats and the recent moves by the Israeli regime is noteworthy. On one hand, amid domestic political and electoral pressures, U.S. officials have attempted to create at least the appearance of some distance from certain Israeli policies. On the other hand, growing criticism within American society regarding Washington's relationship with Tel Aviv has generated concern among Israel's supporters.

Within this context, promoting the narrative of threats against Trump could provide an opportunity to present Israel as America's indispensable security partner and principal defender of the U.S. political system. Such an approach is viewed as an effort to reduce mounting public pressure against Israel and rehabilitate its standing within American political discourse.

At the same time, the continuation of confrontational policies by certain Israeli officials and the repeated issuance of direct threats against Iran have likewise been interpreted as part of a broader strategy aimed at preserving political leverage and sustaining an atmosphere of crisis.

Playing With Words Does Not Change Reality

By promoting allegations of assassination plots against himself and amplifying them through the media, Trump appears to be seeking to accuse Iran while creating political justification for possible future military, economic, and political actions against Tehran. However, rhetorical framing cannot alter the fundamental principles of international law.

The United States and the Israeli regime have employed assassination as a policy against Iranian officials, nuclear scientists, and political figures—actions that Iran argues violate international law, the Charter of the United Nations, international human rights standards, and global conventions. The attack that killed 168 schoolchildren in Minab is cited as an example of what Iran describes as a crime against humanity.

Within the framework of international law and customary international legal principles, Iran maintains that it possesses the right to respond to acts of terrorism committed against its citizens. According to this view, media campaigns and narratives of victimhood advanced by U.S. and Israeli officials cannot negate that right.

Statements by Iranian officials and the Iranian people regarding the necessity of confronting aggressors and seeking justice for victims of terrorist acts are presented within this framework as an undeniable right, while threats directed against Iranian officials and the country's infrastructure are characterized as examples of state terrorism and war crimes.

The continued silence of the international community toward such actions, it is argued, risks establishing a dangerous precedent—one that could encourage the continuation and expansion of violence and destabilizing practices in international affairs.