By Gloria Ogbonna
In the immediate aftermath of the apparent assassination attempt against President Donald Trump during Saturday evening’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency moved swiftly to question the authenticity of the incident.
The shooting reportedly occurred at the Washington Hilton, where the annual dinner was being held, just as the event was getting underway. While U.S. authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, Tasnim published commentary suggesting that the incident may not have been what it appeared to be.
Tasnim, which is widely regarded as having close ties to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), floated the theory that the shooting could have been staged. The outlet described the episode as potentially being a “big show,” speculating that it may have been designed to boost President Trump’s public standing at a politically sensitive time.
According to Tasnim’s analysis, the alleged attack might have been orchestrated to strengthen Trump’s approval ratings ahead of upcoming midterm elections. The report also suggested the possibility that the incident could later be used as political leverage against Iran or another foreign adversary.
The outlet pointed to what it called “signs” that made the event appear questionable, including the fact that President Trump previously survived another assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, months before the 2024 presidential election. Tasnim claimed that Trump had used that earlier incident to galvanize political support, describing it as “election propaganda.” It further speculated that the latest shooting narrative might similarly be leveraged to energize voters ahead of future elections.
Tasnim also highlighted Trump’s social media response following Saturday’s incident, noting that he portrayed himself as resilient and courageous and expressed willingness to remain at the ceremony despite the alleged threat. The outlet characterized this reaction as unusual given what it described as the gravity of the security situation.
The accusations come at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. Iran is currently engaged in strained negotiations with the Trump administration over the future of its nuclear enrichment program, as well as responding to recent American-Israeli military actions targeting elements of the Iranian-backed Islamist regime.
Notably, Iran has previously faced allegations of involvement in plots targeting President Trump. In March, a U.S. federal jury convicted Pakistani national Asif Raza Merchant for attempting to assassinate Trump in 2024 after allegedly receiving training connected to the IRGC. In a separate case, another alleged Iranian operative, Farhad Shakeri, was charged with plotting to hire individuals within the United States to carry out an assassination attempt against the president prior to the 2024 election.
Despite Tasnim’s insinuations, early reports regarding Saturday’s suspected shooter indicate the individual is believed to be a 31-year-old man from California. As of now, U.S. authorities have stated there is no evidence linking the suspect to Iran.
The situation remains under investigation, with federal and local law enforcement agencies continuing to examine the motive behind the attack, any potential affiliations, and the broader security implications surrounding the high-profile event.
Source Breitbart
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