What would happen if Donald Trump was assassinated

As devastating US-Israeli airstrikes continue across the Middle East, questions have been raised regarding what would happen if Donald Trump were to be assassinated by his political foes.

Interestingly, in light of this weekend's events, an answer the Republican leader previously gave to this unnerving question has resurfaced.

Joined with Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, 79-year-old Trump launched a 'massive' missile attack on Iran's totalitarian leadership on Saturday (28 February), killing the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He claimed the move served as America's direct response to the Islamic Republic's oppression against its own people, which sparked nationwide protests earlier this year that themselves were met with severe punishment by Iran's leaders.

Trump also claimed the assault had been intended to destroy the country's controversial nuclear programme.

US-Israeli missiles were launched at Iran on Saturday (Mahsa / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

After Iran responded by firing weapons of their own at the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, US-Israeli forces bit back once again, with their subsequent bombings spilling out to wider areas of the Middle East.

According to the New York Post, following Saturday's attack, Trump told ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl he 'got' Khamenei, 'before he got me'

Not only have the last four days sparked global fear hinged on the prospect of WW3, but for many Americans - especially right-leaning voters - it has raised concerns regarding a possible future threat against Trump's life.

Interestingly, the official website of the US government lays out exactly what would happen in the immediate aftermath of such an earth-shattering event.

A page titled 'Order of presidential succession' dictates where a President's powers would pass to in an event that they 'become incapacitated, die, resign, become unable to hold office', or are 'removed from office'.

Trump previously discussed the possibility of his own assassination (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Whilst it doesn't specify so, we can safely assume that a successful assassination attempt would fall into the second category.

According to the site, the country's Constitution - specifically, the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 - has long outlined who'd take over from America's elected leader in the event of their death.

Power would immediately pass down to Trump's right-hand man, JD Vance - the country's Vice President.

Next in the official line of succession are Speaker of the House (a position currently filled by Mike Johnson) in second, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (Senator Chuck Grassley) in third, Secretary of State (Marco Rubio) in fourth, Secretary of the Treasury (Scott Bessent) in fifth, Secretary of Defence (Pete Hegseth) in sixth, and Attorney General (Pam Bondi) in seventh.

Also making up the remainder of the list are the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labour, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security.

JD Vance would step into the position if Trump were to be assassinated (CARLOS BARRIA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

It is understood that all of these individuals would take on more pressing positions if Trump were to be taken out by his political enemies.

Apparently, concerns over the prospect of the President's passing have also crossed Trump's own mind.

In February of last year, the father-of-five claimed he'd left a set of practical 'instructions' for his administration regarding assassination protocol, directing them to 'obliterate' Iran if the country's leaders were to make an attempt on his life.

His comments came after the signing of a 'very tough' executive order that he pledged would apply further pressure on Iran. Trump also claimed the move would hand him all the necessary tools to tackle the increasingly totalitarian government in power in Tehran.

Asked about the possibility of Iran sending proxies to assassinate him, the right-wing leader teased: "Well, they haven't done that, and that would be a terrible thing for them to do, not because of me. If they did that, they would be obliterated.

Trump claimed his team would 'obliterate' Iran in the event of his assassination (The White House via X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"That would be the end. I've left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated - there won't be anything left.

At the time, Trump seemingly couldn't resist the opportunity to slam his presidential predecessor, Joe Biden, for failing to make such threats against Iran during his stint in the White House.

"They shouldn't be able to do it, and Biden should have said that, but he never did," the politician continued. "I don't know why, lack of intelligence, perhaps. But he never said it.

"If that happens to a leader or close to a leader, frankly, if you had other people involved also, you would call for total obliteration of a state that did it, that would include Iran."

As a reminder, there have previously been three major assassination attempts made against Trump.

Three major attempts have been made on Trump's life (REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images)

Whilst speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired eight rounds from a nearby rooftop before being killed by a Secret Service sniper, with a bullet wounding Trump's right ear and killing an attendee.

Two months later, a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel through a fence of Trump's Palm Beach Golf resort while the former businessman was out golfing. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh was later sentenced to life in prison without parole.

A third assassination attempt was made just last month, when an armed man who'd breached the security perimeter of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. The attacker was fatally shot on the scene.