Donald Trump said he left instructions for the U.S. military to bomb Iran if the country assassinates him [1, 2].
The statement introduces a volatile element to U.S.-Iran relations by suggesting a pre-planned, massive military response triggered by a personal attack. Such a directive, if enacted, would represent a significant escalation in Middle East tensions.
In an interview with the New York Post published Friday, July 10, 2026 [2], Trump, 80 [1], said that the military should "bomb them at levels they've never seen before" in the event of his death by Iranian hands [1, 3]. The former president framed the instructions as a necessary retaliatory measure given his perceived risk.
"I've been on their list for a while," Trump said in the interview [1].
The disclosure comes amid long-standing friction between the U.S. and Iran. Trump said that the severity of the response would serve as a deterrent or a final act of retribution. He added, "Hope you'll miss me" [2].
While the specific nature and delivery of these instructions remain unclear, the public declaration emphasizes Trump's willingness to utilize the full scale of U.S. military power. The former president did not specify which military commanders or agencies received the directives, only that the instructions were left to ensure a response [4, 5].
The comments highlight a personalized approach to national security strategy, where military action is tied directly to the fate of a specific political figure rather than traditional state-level aggression.
“"Bomb them at levels they've never seen before."”
This statement signals a shift toward a 'dead man's switch' style of deterrence, where the threat of catastrophic retaliation is used to protect an individual leader. By publicly announcing these instructions, Trump is attempting to raise the cost for Iran of any potential assassination attempt, while simultaneously signaling a commitment to maximum military force regardless of the geopolitical climate at the time of the event.
