“I Got Him First”: Trump Claims Khamenei Plotted His Assassination in 2024

In a characteristic display of “eye-for-an-eye” diplomacy, President Donald Trump has personally linked the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to the alleged assassination plots he faced during the 2024 US election cycle. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday evening, Trump celebrated the success of the joint military operation, stating bluntly, “I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first.”

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The remarks come as the Middle East reels from Operation Epic Fury, a lightning-fast campaign that has effectively dismantled the upper echelons of the Iranian government in less than 48 hours.

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“I Got Him First”: The Jonathan Karl Interview

The President’s comments were shared via Jonathan Karl, ABC’s Chief Washington Correspondent, following a phone call that took place as retaliatory missiles were still being intercepted over the Middle East.

• The Motive: Trump framed the “decapitation strike” as a pre-emptive measure against a regime that had consistently targeted him.

• The Rhetoric: On Truth Social, Trump labeled Khamenei’s inner circle as a “gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,” asserting that “highly sophisticated tracking systems” made the Supreme Leader’s escape impossible.

The 2024 Assassination Plots: A Timeline of Tension

Trump’s “I got him first” comment refers to a series of security threats that defined his 2024 campaign.

• July 2024: Trump survived a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear.

• September 2024: A second attempt was thwarted at his West Palm Beach golf course.

• The “Iranian Asset”: In November 2024, the US Justice Department charged Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national, for allegedly being tasked by the IRGC to develop a plan to kill Trump. While Iran denied involvement, the Trump administration has now used these plots as a primary moral justification for the 2026 strikes.

Operation Epic Fury: The Strike That Changed Everything

On Saturday morning, February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched a coordinated assault that differed drastically from previous “proportional” responses.

• The Execution: Israeli fighter jets and US B-2 bombers struck 500 military targets. The “Pasteur district” in Tehran, where Khamenei resided, was hit with 30 precision bombs during a daring daylight attack.

• Casualties: Alongside Khamenei, four members of his family and at least 48 high-ranking Iranian officials were confirmed killed, according to Trump’s updates to Fox News.

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Iran’s New Reality: The Leadership Crisis

With the Supreme Leader gone, Iran has entered an unprecedented interregnum.

• Interim Council: A three-member council consisting of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Alireza Arafi has taken control.

• Open to Talks? In a stunning shift, a senior White House official indicated on Sunday that Iran’s “new potential leadership” has already signaled an openness to negotiations.

Reality Check

The claim that Khamenei was personally directing the 2024 hits remains a point of intense intelligence debate. Still, the Trump administration is treating it as an absolute fact to bypass domestic legal hurdles for “assassination.” Therefore, while the strike is being hailed as “justice,” it marks a permanent shift in US policy toward regime change through direct kinetic action. In fact, the US hasn’t targeted a head of state with this level of precision since the killing of Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

The Loopholes

Trump claimed he “got Khamenei first.” In fact, this is a “Pre-emptive Loophole”—by framing the strike as a response to a “continuous threat” (the 2024 plots), the administration avoids the international legal ban on political assassinations. Therefore, the strike is categorized as “self-defense” rather than “murder.” Still, the “Negotiation Loophole”—where Trump says he has “agreed to talk” to the new leaders—suggests that the military operation was a “shock and awe” tactic to force a better trade and nuclear deal.

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What This Means for You

If you are an investor, expect massive volatility in the energy markets. First, realize that Brent crude hit $82 per barrel (a 14-month high) on Monday morning due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Then, if you are a traveler, understand that major hubs like Dubai and Doha are facing massive delays as regional airspace remains restricted.

Finally, understand that the conflict is not over. You should watch for retaliatory cyberattacks on US and Israeli infrastructure. Before you plan any investments in the defense or energy sectors, wait to see if the Interim Council in Tehran can actually maintain control of the IRGC, as a “fragmented” Iran could be more dangerous than a centralized one.

What’s Next

President Trump is expected to address the nation from the Oval Office on Monday evening. Then, look for the United Nations to hold a heated emergency session where the legality of the “decapitation strike” will be debated. Finally, the Supplementary Electoral Roll in Iran—or its equivalent transition process—will be the first sign of whether the “hour of freedom” Trump promised actually leads to democracy or a military junta.

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