A recent intelligence report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has shed light on the persistent threats posed by Iran and other U.S. adversaries towards former President Donald Trump and high-level officials, regardless of the election outcome.
The report indicates that Iran's efforts to assassinate former President Trump and other U.S. officials are likely to continue even after the voting ends. The U.S. has taken extensive measures to safeguard Trump and key officials from potential retaliation by Iran, particularly following the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.
Furthermore, the report highlights that Iran favors Vice President Kamala Harris and will focus on thwarting Trump, while Russia prefers Trump and will target Harris. Both countries are expected to engage in influence operations to promote their preferred outcomes.
In addition, the report warns of China, Iran, and Russia being better prepared to exploit the elections this year, drawing from lessons learned in the 2020 cycle. These foreign actors are anticipated to conduct influence operations aimed at undermining confidence in the election results until the next president is sworn in.
While the report suggests that foreign actors are unlikely to attempt to alter the vote count due to security measures in place, such as offline voting machines and paper records, they may focus on other tactics like information operations, cyber threats, and physical violence threats.
Intelligence officials have consistently cautioned about the efforts of Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran to sow division and undermine confidence in the U.S. governing system, particularly during election years. Recent incidents, such as a Pakistani man seeking hit men to assassinate a U.S. politician and a member of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps charged with attempting to kill a former national security adviser, underscore the seriousness of these threats.
The report underscores the need for continued vigilance and preparedness to counter foreign interference in U.S. elections and safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.
