Trump’s Decision Puts American Officials at Risk of Iran’s Retribution

Whoever advised President Trump to disband the security detail protecting former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others under Iranian death threats has made a grave mistake — the president should immediately rectify this hazardous decision.

Pompeo is at the top of Tehran’s target list due to his involvement in the elimination of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani in January 2020, a significant strategic achievement during Trump’s first term.

The threats are not just abstract or unclear: In 2022, Iranian Supreme Leader (and Grand Ayatollah) Ali Khamenei’s platform released a video titled “Revenge is definite”, featuring animated representations of Pompeo and Trump being targeted by a remote weapon.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton and ex-Pompeo aide Brian Hook have also received threats from the Iranian regime due to their roles in the Soleimani operation — and their security has been revoked as well.

Despite Pompeo and (especially) Bolton expressing grievances against Trump, this does not change the fact that they took actions against Iran while serving under him and for the country.

This situation not only appears to be spiteful retaliation: Is Trump willing to have his new national-security team formulate policy while fearing they won’t receive protection if their actions earn them a spot on Tehran’s hit list?

Moreover, Trump’s team made the security withdrawal public, which serves to almost provide Iran with a green light.

Trump dismissed the concern by stating, “You can’t have [protection] for the rest of your life.”

Unfortunately, Iran’s target lists do not expire quickly: Salman Rushdie faced a near-fatal attack decades after the fatwa against him was issued.

The Biden administration established the security measures in 2021, and there is no indication that the threat has diminished — nor is there evidence that Trump was completely informed about the circumstances before withdrawing protection.

It is particularly outrageous to leave these individuals vulnerable, especially because Trump knows it’s the wrong decision: Last year, he urged the Biden administration to provide Secret Service protection to then-candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the campaign trail, labeling it the “right thing to do.”

Additionally, Trump himself has experienced the threat of assassination twice; he should understand better than anyone the importance of sufficient protection when under threat.

Even worse, this public act could encourage Iran to escalate operations against the newly exposed now, aiming to showcase its power and undermine Trump.

The desire for retribution runs deep in MAGA circles, but any adviser suggesting that this is a sensible course of action is misguided: If any of these individuals are attacked, the president will bear the blame — and rightly so.

Act prudently, Mr. President: Reinstate the protective details immediately — now.