Tracy Walder, a former CIA officer and FBI special agent, said Thursday that reported Iranian threats against President Trump should come as no surprise to observers of U.S.-Iran relations. The comment came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel shared intelligence with the United States revealing an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate the president amid ongoing military operations in the Middle East.

Walder, who served as an FBI special agent and later as a CIA officer, spoke publicly about the intelligence report. "No one should be surprised that Iran wants to kill the president," Walder said during her appearance on cable news. The former federal law enforcement official noted that such threats represent a continuation of longstanding tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Israel provided U.S. intelligence officials with information suggesting Iran was pursuing a new assassination attempt against Trump. The reporting comes as military operations continue in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been conducting operations following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which is backed by Tehran.

U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the specific details of the reported intelligence. The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president, declined to comment on specific threat assessments but stated that it works closely with intelligence partners to ensure appropriate security measures are in place.

What the Right Is Saying

Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators largely framed the reported plot as confirmation of longstanding concerns about Iranian aggression. Senate Minority Leader John Thune said Trump has faced "unique threats" that require vigilant security measures.

Former Pentagon officials aligned with conservative causes argued that the reported assassination plot underscores why maximum pressure on Iran remains necessary. "This is exactly why we must maintain sanctions and keep military options on the table," said a former National Security Council official under the first Trump administration.

Conservative media figures amplified Walder's comments, arguing they demonstrated the severity of threats facing the current president. "The left tried to downplay these threats when he was a candidate," one prominent conservative commentator wrote on social media. "Now we see exactly what we're dealing with."

Former Trump administration officials noted that Iran previously attempted to harm U.S. personnel during their tenure, including the 2020 strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. "The mullahs in Tehran have never accepted American presence in the region," said one former senior official who declined to be named. "We always knew they would pursue any means necessary to push us out."

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic lawmakers and national security experts aligned with progressive causes emphasized the seriousness of any verified assassination plot while calling for measured responses. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said through a spokesperson that "any credible threat against the president is taken with the utmost gravity by members of both parties."

Former CIA officials who served under Democratic administrations noted that Iranian threats against U.S. personnel have been documented for decades. "We've seen this pattern before," said one former intelligence official who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. "What's important now is that our agencies are sharing information with partners and taking appropriate precautions."

Progressive advocacy groups focused on foreign policy argued that escalating rhetoric could be counterproductive. "While we take all threats seriously, we must ensure any response is proportionate and doesn't lead to a broader conflict," said a spokesperson for the Center for American Progress, a center-left think tank.

Some Democratic voices also pointed to previous bipartisan support for strong intelligence sharing with Israel as evidence of continued U.S.-Israeli cooperation on security matters. "Our alliance remains strong because we share information when threats emerge," noted one Senate Democrat who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee.

What the Numbers Show

Iran has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. State Department since 1984, one of four countries currently on that list along with North Korea, Syria, and Cuba.

The Secret Service reported in its most recent budget justification that threat-related operational costs have increased significantly over the past five years. The agency requested $7.1 billion for fiscal year 2026, up from $5.9 billion in fiscal year 2022.

According to data compiled by the Congressional Research Service, there have been four confirmed assassination attempts against sitting or former U.S. presidents since 1900: Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, Franklin D. Roosevelt's son in 1933, John F. Kennedy in 1963, and Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Iran has been subject to various U.S. sanctions regimes for decades, with the most comprehensive measures implemented under the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign from 2018 through 2020.

Intelligence sharing between the United States and Israel is governed by a 1974 memorandum of understanding that has been renewed multiple times. The current agreement runs through fiscal year 2028.

The Bottom Line

The reported Iranian assassination plot, if verified, represents a significant escalation in already tense U.S.-Iranian relations. Intelligence officials will likely examine the Israeli-provided information for confirmation and additional details about any operational planning.

Security analysts expect the Secret Service to adjust protective details as warranted based on ongoing threat assessments. The agency regularly modifies security protocols based on intelligence regarding potential threats to protected individuals.

Congressional oversight committees are expected to receive briefings on the reported intelligence in coming days, according to sources familiar with standard notification procedures for significant national security matters.

The broader diplomatic implications remain uncertain. Previous administrations have taken varying approaches to responding to verified Iranian threats, ranging from targeted military strikes to diplomatic isolation and economic pressure campaigns.

What happens next will likely depend on whether additional intelligence confirms the reported plot and what specific operational details emerge about any planning that may have occurred.