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Millions in Dem ad money vanished from Platner race days before rape allegation doomed Senate bid
Two Democratic-aligned political groups shifted millions of dollars in planned Maine Senate ad reservations days before a rape allegation against former Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner became public, handing Republicans a new line of attack over whether party leaders had already lost confidence in his campaign.
WinSenate removed more than $6.2 million in Maine Senate ad reservations, including $5.9 million in broadcast reservations from July 7 through Aug. 31 and $330,000 in cable reservations that had been set to begin June 30, AdImpact, a leading ad-tracking and analytics firm that monitors political advertising, reported July 2. AdImpact also said a separate $240,000 in digital spending shifted from Majority Forward.
The ad shift came roughly one week before one of Platner’s ex-girlfriends accused him of rape, though Majority Forward denied the shift was due to recent campaign turmoil.
The rape allegation reported by Politico, which Platner denied, ended a campaign already weakened by months of controversy. Platner had faced scrutiny since October 2025 over comments from a deleted Reddit account and a Nazi-linked tattoo he acquired while serving in the armed forces. Pressure intensified June 4 after The New York Times reported that multiple ex-girlfriends described him as emotionally abusive, which he also denied.
WATCH: CHUCK SCHUMER SIDESTEPS PLATNER SCANDALS, CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR CONTROVERSIAL DEM
"D.C. Democrats are furious that Graham Platner went down swinging with a lengthy swan song calling out their ‘political establishment’ coup to silence grassroots progressives," one GOP operative told Fox News Digital. "Chuck Schumer’s ad spending proves he only discovered moral clarity when his midterm strategy was on life support."
The funding for the ads was rerouted to a different Democratic committee to reserve advertising space in Maine between July 7 and Aug. 31, according to AdImpact.
Majority Forward denied the spending shift was connected to Platner’s campaign turmoil.
"Majority Forward moved its (c)4 spending to another entity, a fairly common practice with issue advocacy campaigns," a spokeswoman for the organization told Fox News Digital. "This change was not connected to recent campaign events."
WinSenate and Majority Forward are closely tied to the Democratic Senate campaign apparatus.
Both organizations are affiliated with Senate Majority PAC, a wealthy political committee run by allies of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. WinSenate has historically been funded by Senate Majority PAC, while Majority Forward has shared staff and costs with the committee.
Prior to the rape allegation, Schumer avoided commenting on Platner's controversies, stating that he was committed to flipping Maine's Senate seat. After the story broke, Schumer said he was "disturbed" and demanded that Platner "immediately withdraw" from the race.
"What did they know and when did they know it?" journalist Chuck Ross wrote of the ad cancellations on X.
Upon dropping out of the race on Wednesday, Platner claimed that the Democratic establishment sabotaged his campaign.
"It's not the false allegations though that have brought us to where we are," Platner said of the rape allegations, which he denies, during his concession speech on Wednesday. "It's the fact that they are being used by the political establishment to put structural pressure on us … Those in power who have the ability to do so are using these allegations as an excuse to take away all of the things that we need to run a campaign."
DEMOCRATS EXTEND PLATNER 'GRACE' DESPITE ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AFTER KAVANAUGH RECKONING
Platner underwent an unusually short vetting process, a decision some argue allowed a candidate with significant baggage to make it much further than he should have. While most candidate background checks in key races often cost tens of thousands of dollars and take weeks to complete, Platner’s lasted just three days and cost just over $6,000, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Democrats in Maine plan to hold a nominating convention to determine who will replace Platner to face off against incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins on the ballot in November. While independents could vote in Maine's Democratic primary, the convention will only feature Democratic delegates.
WinSenate and the Platner campaign did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Fox News AI Newsletter: Microsoft cuts thousands of jobs
Welcome to Fox News' Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER:
- Microsoft cuts 4,800 positions, insists jobs 'not being replaced by AI'
- OpenAI unveils ChatGPT Work to automate workplace tasks as AI race intensifies
- Google turns old phones into cloud servers
TECH TRANSITION: Microsoft said on Monday that it will eliminate roughly 4,800 jobs – or about 2.1% of its global workforce – as it restructures parts of the company to prioritize artificial intelligence investments and other long-term business goals.
AUTOMATION ASSIST: OpenAI on Thursday unveiled a new enterprise offering called ChatGPT Work, which is designed to leverage the popular chatbot to carry out and automate workplace tasks across a variety of applications and files.
CALL YOU BACK: That old phone sitting in your drawer may have more life left in it than you think. You may look at it and see a dead battery, an outdated camera or a screen that no longer feels worth using. Google and researchers at the University of California San Diego see something else: a tiny computer that may still have useful processing power.
SPORTS TECH: Colombia and Portugal were deadlocked at zero in one of the most thrilling 2026 FIFA World Cup matches when a cross from Colombia whipped into Portugal’s box. Davinson Sánchez of Colombia read the pass perfectly the whole way to the far post and used his head to smash the ball into the back of Portugal’s net. The goal was in stoppage time, Colombia and its fan base were in rapture, and the game appeared to be won.
TACO 'BOT': Taco Bell is expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at drive-thrus and announced a new strategic partnership with an AI voice provider.
TECHING IT HIGHER: The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is causing a fierce bidding war for some luxury homes in the San Francisco Bay Area, with dozens of homes selling more than $1 million above asking price last month.
SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM: The state of Oregon's utility regulator is implementing a new rule starting Wednesday that will raise the electricity bills of data centers and other large energy users to allow lower rates for other customers.
BYTE THE BULLET: A security update rarely feels dramatic. You see the alert, promise yourself you will install it later and then go right back to whatever you were doing. This time, Apple is giving you a stronger reason to pay attention.
TECH FUTURE: American workers who never use artificial intelligence (AI) may be more likely to be laid off than those who use AI more regularly, according to new data.
CRUNCH TIME: Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra detailed the company’s new $250 billion U.S. investment as the chipmaking giant responds to surging demand for memory storage in the age of artificial intelligence.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.
WATCH: Trump's Energy chief reveals what escalating Iran tensions could mean for gas prices
Energy Secretary Chris Wright is telling Americans not to be concerned about the possibility of another surge of sharp increases in gasoline prices as tensions with Iran have started to escalate once again.
Asked whether Americans should worry about higher prices at the pump and how the Trump administration is preparing to keep the economy stable if the conflict continues to worsen, Wright told Fox News Digital: "It has not been any good behavior from Iran that's allowed oil to flow. It's been the United States military."
"That's not changing," he assured, speaking from the Great American State Fair on the National Mall this week.
US CLAWS BACK KEY CONCESSION TO IRAN AFTER FRESH ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ
With Iran striking three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, Wright doubled down in urging citizens to not credit Iran for the U.S. military’s work to ensure oil shipments continue flowing through the strait.
"Look, the U.S. Military has been the key asset here," he said. "They have assured the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz throughout. Not at the beginning of this conflict, but through the last six weeks."
Wright said the administration is closely monitoring global oil supplies as the tentative ceasefire with Iran seemingly came to a halt, with President Donald Trump telling Secretary-General Mark Rutte the call for peace with Iran is "over" at the NATO Summit in Turkey on Wednesday.
But, he pointed to the continued shipping through the Strait as evidence that markets should remain stable.
TRUMP SAYS IRAN CEASEFIRE IS 'OVER' AFTER IRANIAN ATTACKS TRIGGER MASSIVE US RESPONSE
"We're, of course, constantly watching the supply of oil, the supply of refined products and what's going on there," Wright said. "And I think still all positive trends."
Beyond geopolitical concerns, Wright also praised the new chain of discounted gas stations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Freedom Fuel, which promises customers prices below the national average.
The Trump administration, though not involved with the network, has heavily endorsed the new chain and its 25 locations.
"We love it," Wright said when asked about Freedom Fuel. "I mean, look, any mechanism we can to lower energy costs for Americans of all kinds, we're all in on."
"With Freedom Fuels, they're just lowering it down to their wholesale price of gasoline," Wright said. "So they're not making any money selling gasoline, but they've got convenience stores. That's how most gas stations make money."
NEWSOM UNDER FIRE AS CALIFORNIA GAS TAX HIKE SENDS PUMP PRICES EVEN HIGHER
Gasoline costs are a known concern for many Americans, and amid surging prices there has been a considerable increase in those opting to purchase electric vehicles to save money long-term at the pump — with Tesla dominating the market for these types of models.
Wright argued one of the benefits to living in America is having the option to choose what type of vehicle you drive.
"We just want people to buy what they would prefer," he told Fox News Digital when asked his thoughts on increasing calls for support of the electrification of cars. "Consumer choice — you wanna buy an electric car, you wanna buy a gas powered car, diesel powered car, buy a big truck. That's the choice."
"That's why you live in America. You get the choice of all those."
Riley Green's new 'Think As You Drunk' music video is winning over country music fans
Riley Green is going viral with his latest music video.
Green has become a country music superstar over the past couple years, and it's not hard to figure out the formula to his success.
The "There Was This Girl" singer makes incredibly fun and engaging music. He's also known for keeping it real and authentic. That's about as rare as a unicorn sighting these days.
COUNTRY MUSIC STAR ANNOUNCES MAJOR CAREER NEWS, FIRES UP FANS WITH VIRAL VIDEO FOR NEW ALBUM
Now, he's, once again, proven why he's a star.
Green released the music video for his new hit song "Think As You Drunk" for fans on Thursday, and it's making serious waves in the country music world.
It's classic Riley Green.
COUNTRY MUSIC SENSATION WYATT FLORES SHOCKS INTERNET WITH NEW SONG, UNEXPECTED COLLABORATION
Give it a watch below, and make sure to let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
People in the comments were incredibly excited with Green's latest music video. One wrote, "Bringing back good music videos, not a lot of people do it like this anymore."
Another commented, "This is sooooo freaking funny! I love it! Made my day!"
A third wrote, "Video of the year."
It's great to see Riley Green continue to dominate the country music world, and I have no doubt there's a lot more coming from the "Jesus Saves" singer. Let me know your favorite song of his at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
Sophie Cunningham stuns the Internet with Phoenix entrance attire, new fantasy football punishment & ribs!
Let's get Friday Screencaps started with news that summer has officially officially started around here, as the summer rec baseball season came to a close last night in the second round of the NW Ohio 14U playoffs.
The boys battled through three innings, and trailed 5-2 against a flame-throwing 14 year old before they went to the pen and brought in a flame-throwing, junk-ball throwing 14 year old who had our kids way off-balance and flailing at pitches.
Screencaps Jr. came in, got his first taste of an elevated mound for the first time in about two months and he struggled. A few walks and hard singles later and we were going home with a 12-2 loss. Our opponent didn't hit a single ball in the air over our infield, but they must've had 8-10 singles into holes.
My message after the game to wrap up the season was simple: You guys didn't turtle after facing adversity early in the season. We were a complete mess early on, but the boys ripped off five straight wins before losing last night. I explained how a boxer will turtle against opponents he fears.
Last night, we didn't turtle. I had a boy take an 85 mile fastball to the small of his back that was one of the most brutal hit-by-pitches you're ever going to see and hear. The kid could've turtled. After catching his breath and refusing to show he was in pain, the boy got up and stole second base.
The boys were mentally and physically tough this season. Onward they go to other sports and activities. Hopefully I made a difference in their lives this summer.
Quick observations from last night:
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There she is, Caitlin Clark's enforcer looking like she didn't skip leg day before last night's game in Phoenix. By the way, how about Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White turtling and refusing to address a letter sent to the WNBA by members of Congress who wonder whether treatment of Clark is due to racial motivation when asked about it by OutKick's Dan Zaksheske.
White refused to address the letter. She's as weak as they come. The anti-straight White women league rolls on.
Guys, you don't need to contact John Boehner about mowing. I'm sitting right here by my phone. I can tell you why white collar America wants their yard to look pristine. It's because we don't want to look like absolute slobs. White collars, and millions of blue collars, have worked their asses off for YEARS to buy homes and create amazing pieces of property.
My big problem with this headline is the white-collar modifier. All of us should be obsessed with taking great care of our properties. We should beam with pride when we mow on Thursday night and then stare at our lawns as the sun is setting. We should puff our our chests when someone compliments how our property looks.
I believe that taking pride in property leads to taking pride in community. This isn't hard.
No bumper stickers was a dead giveaway.
I believe they've gone five straight days drawing weather dongs.
– Philly Ray in MN asks: Hello Joe, great video with a great par as well. I have a few questions about the towel hanging from your belt loop though.
A. Why isn't this on your cart or golf bag?
B. It looks like a dry towel flapping in the wind. Is there a damp one on your cart? What happens during those windy days?
C. Is this for wiping schweaty hands during humid rounds? If so, that's something I can get behind..
Inquiring minds want to know. Keep up the great work.
Kinsey:
###################
That is it this morning. What a week. I feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things. I'm pissing off people on social media. I'm firing off on topics that had been missing over the last six weeks. I'm back to finding small nuggets that had been escaping me in late May and June.
Enjoy your weekend. Hit the pool. Stay cool. Watch some soccer and the Tour de France Sunday morning when you're just lounging around. Let's embrace those dog days of summer.
Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam is a 'generational matchup,' WWE legend JBL says
Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar’s feud will come to a head at SummerSlam in August, and the showdown has the potential to be WWE’s match of the year.
Femi beat Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 and led to "The Beast Incarnate" deciding to retire – at least for a moment – at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Lesnar made a dramatic return a few weeks later, challenging and beating Femi at Clash in Italy.
COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL
At SummerSlam, Femi and Lesnar will do battle inside a Hell in a Cell.
WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield called the next meeting between Femi and Lesnar a "generational matchup."
"I’ve never seen anything like Oba – well, I have. I’ve seen Brock," he told Fox News Digital. "It’s very much the carbon copy of Brock coming in. Brock coming in was like, oh my God, who is this guy? The guy can even talk, and he’s gonna be one of the biggest stars in wrestling. Not only could he talk, he’s a really smart guy. Brock became one of the biggest draws in professional wrestling. He came one of the biggest draws in UFC. It’s an unbelievable story, and now you got somebody who can rival that character.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"This Oba Femi comes out with the silly little walk he does. Everyone kinda does it, it’s like The Bushwackers. But the whole arena does it. I was in Vegas and I didn’t want to go to the matches and deal with the traffic and deal with the backstage area, and so I kinda just watched it in a sports bar. I stood in the back where nobody could recognize me, and as soon as Oba came out, the entire sports bar was sitting there doing that Oba Femi dance. The guy is just unbelievably over.
"I really think that somewhere in the NFL this year, you’re going to see an entire NFL arena doing this dance. You’re gonna have somebody like Saquon Barkley or ‘King’ (Derrick Henry) or some of these guys do this dance, and it’s infectious. Once one of them does, one of these great running backs or wide receivers, or somebody scores a touchdown, that’s when I think you’re gonna see entire arenas doing it. I just think Oba Femi is lightning in a bottle and Brock has always been that way. This is, to me, a generational matchup."
SummerSlam will take place on Aug. 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Mamdani's wife co-hosts luxe Muslim retreat casting Virgin Mary as ‘Palestinian woman’ under occupation
The wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Rama Duwaji, is reportedly co-hosting an Islamic Women’s "spiritual wellness" retreat on the swank French island of Corsica that frames the Virgin Mary as a "Palestinian woman" under occupation.
"She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an — mentioned 34 times — and the only one to have an entire chapter revealed in her name," reads The Women Sanctuary website, referring to Mary. "Surah Maryam. Her story is not only one of divine motherhood, but of unwavering faith, sacred retreat, and total devotion to Allah."
The Virgin Mary is the most revered woman in Christianity, venerated as the Mother of Jesus, and is also revered in Islam as Maryam.
Mamdani drew national attention for running as a Democratic socialist in New York City, while also facing backlash over his pro-Palestinian positions and far-left immigration views. When he took office in January 2026, Mamdani became the first New York City mayor to be sworn in on a Quran. His wife, a Syrian American artist, has also faced scrutiny over her outspoken pro-Palestinian activism.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI'S WIFE SKIPS AMERICA 250 FOR ISLAMIC ‘SPIRITUAL WELLNESS’ RETREAT IN SPAIN
The New York Post reported that Duwaji previously traveled to Mallorca, Spain, for The Women’s Sanctuary’s sold-out "Plants of the Quran" retreat over the Fourth of July holiday, where she was described as the group’s "artist in residence" and one of the gathering’s hosts.
"Nothing says ‘America 250’ quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation, but I am not surprised because she has made her hatred for America very evident," Councilwoman Joann Ariola, R-Queens, told The Post in response to that event.
The Women Sanctuary describes itself as a women’s retreat organization rooted in Islamic tradition and spiritual renewal, offering retreats in Mediterranean destinations.
The Women's Sanctuary website does not explicitly list Duwaji as a co-host for the current event in France. The New York Post reported she would co-host the "Mary In The Quran" retreat from Thursday to July 14 in a sold-out event. The cost of the retreat starts at just over $4,000 per attendee, according to its website.
The New York Post first reported Duwaji’s participation in the pair of retreats when she was seen at Newark International Airport in New Jersey boarding a flight to Mallorca’s capital city over the patriotic holiday weekend. Photos of Duwaji at the airport were posted by conservative commentator and comedian Arynne Wexler.
The retreat in France includes daily organic meals made with locally sourced ingredients, communal prayers, devotional practices, lectures, and workshops centered on spiritual renewal and mindful reflection. Participants also receive and have free time to pray, meditate, journal, relax by the pool, or explore the island, blending "guided learning" with "personal reflection," according to the website.
MAMDANI'S WIFE 'TRULY SORRY' FOR CONTROVERSIAL ANTI-ISRAEL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Duwaji publicly apologized in April for offensive posts she made as a teenager, saying she was "truly sorry" for the hurt they caused, though she did not specify which posts she was addressing. The Washington Free Beacon previously reported that Duwaji had shared anti-Israel posts on Tumblr, including a September 2017 post featuring a photo of Palestinian militant Leila Khaled.
MAMDANI BLASTS ICE AGENTS, ELON MUSK AND 'SUPREMACY' IN AMERICA 250 SPEECH AHEAD OF JULY 4 WEEKEND
Fox News Digital reached out to Mayor Mamdani’s office and The Women Sanctuary for comment.
DOUG SCHOEN: Far-left gamble in Maine blows up, leaving Democrats with one choice
Democrats are facing a crisis after the implosion of Graham Platner’s candidacy in Maine following explosive allegations of sexual assault and his withdrawal from the race.
To that end, it is clear that Democrats’ strategy — particularly the approach of democratic socialists — of picking far-left candidates with no experience and without vetting is fraught with peril, as Platner’s case underscores.
Right now, Democrats have one last opportunity to seize victory from the jaws of potential defeat, and it’s critical they take it.
PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING 'THUMB ON SCALE' TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES
What must Democrats do?
Plainly, they need to avoid repeating the coronation process used by former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Quite simply, Maine Democrats must use the next two weeks to start a robust process that ideally goes deeper than their 600-delegate nominating convention.
Indeed, they should let prospective candidates for the party’s nomination participate in town halls, rallies and other events.
Voters deserve the ability to question the multitude of candidates about their positions and to interact with the candidates in a way that provides the delegates with sufficient feedback to pick a viable candidate.
This would allow Maine voters a chance to hear what the candidates have to say, why voters should support them, and how each plans to compete with Republicans nationally as well as against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING 'THUMB ON SCALE' TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES
In my opinion, arguments calling to blindly elevate Troy Jackson hold no water.
Jackson – a former Platner supporter until it became inconvenient – has received the most attention, as he’s ideologically very similar to Platner, yet the latter won an uncontested primary with just 72% of the vote.
In other words, nearly 30% of Maine Democrats did not support Platner, whether due to ideology or past controversies. Thus, a fully open process is needed.
To be sure, I previously recommended Democrats undertake this process in 2024.
Then, my party missed an absolutely critical lesson: the process matters just as much as the candidate, but in this case it actually matters more.
Rather than having the state Democratic Party select a nominee, it would be best to have as close to a primary as the system – and time – will allow.
PLATNER CALLS IT QUITS, DROPS SENATE BID AMID MOUNTING SCANDALS
If possible, this should include a televised debate, so voters have as much information as possible.
Moreover, this would give both wings of the Democratic electorate — establishment and progressive — the chance to fully vet prospective candidates and then choose based on background, proposed policies and ideology.
The outcome of this election, despite Platner’s collapse, is not a foregone conclusion.
Deeply flawed, Platner remained competitive with Collins despite seemingly endless revelations about his character and incendiary comments over the last year.
Put another way, it is the case that my party still has a chance — albeit a diminishing one — to win the seat.
However, that cannot happen without a healthy and transparent nominating process with candidates who have previously been fully vetted.
The three strongest candidates, in my opinion, are incumbent Gov. Janet Mills, who withdrew her candidacy earlier in the year; Rep. Jared Golden or Dr. Nirav Shah, the epidemiologist, economist, attorney and politician who finished second in the ranked-choice Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2024.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
Further, Sheena Bellows, Maine's secretary of state, would be a prospective candidate alongside Jackson and the aforementioned officials.
More important than what I think about each candidate, however, is ensuring the process gives Mainers a chance to pick a candidate who truly reflects their worldview.
The impact that the repeated headlines have already had on the Democratic brand is clear and obvious.
At the same time, with August’s Senate primary in Michigan now a two-way race between centrist Haley Stevens and far-left progressive Abdul El-Sayed, the choice between socialists and moderates becomes clear and apparent.
It is now a real possibility that El-Sayed emerges as the nominee. He has a 5-point lead over Stevens in the polls, and Mallory McMorrow’s withdrawal ended the threat of splitting the progressive, activist-class vote.
As such, it is increasingly important that Maine Democrats demonstrate their commitment to democracy and rally behind whichever candidate comes out of this two-week process, rather than try to orchestrate an outcome they deem preferable.
Failure to avoid the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris model will further damage the Democratic Party and its brand, hurting us going forward just as it hurt Harris in the 2024 election.
Ultimately, as a Democrat, I very much hope that this process plays out. And in terms of electability, I remain convinced that a centrist offers the best chance for success, not to mention the benefits it gives Democrats hoping to shed their party’s "socialist" label.
That said, as we sit here today, unless Democrats adopt some variant of the approach I’ve outlined, the impact in November is likely to be clearly and obviously detrimental.
Trump says he's Iran's 'No. 1' target as renewed conflict raises assassination fears
One thing was clear from President Donald Trump’s appearance at the NATO summit in recent days: He believes Iran wants him dead.
"I'm No. 1 on the kill list for Iran," the president told reporters Wednesday. "I like being number one on TikTok better."
Trump returned to the subject repeatedly throughout the summit — with a level of candidness that might seem unusual for any other president.
A new report suggests U.S. officials may have had fresh intelligence to support concerns about the threat: The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States indicating Iran had developed a new plan to assassinate Trump.
The report also adds new context to questions surrounding Trump's decision to switch from the interim Air Force One to one of the legacy VC-25A aircraft during his return from the NATO summit. The White House has not said whether the reported intelligence played any role in that decision.
TRUMP EXPLAINS WHY HE'S FLYING OLD AIR FORCE ONE BACK TO DC
Trump flew to the summit in Turkey, which borders Iran, aboard the new Air Force One, a retrofitted Boeing 747 donated by Qatar, but switched to one of the older Boeing VC-25A aircraft that have served as Air Force One for more than three decades for the first leg of his trip home, from Ankara to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.
From the U.K. to the U.S., Trump switched back to the newer jet.
Bill Gage, a former Secret Service special agent who traveled on dozens of presidential and vice presidential foreign trips, told Fox News Digital he had "never seen a plane switch up" in the middle of an overseas visit.
Trump said the newer aircraft was instead flown ahead of him to Royal Air Force Mildenhall, U.K., so U.S. troops could tour it.
"It could be that simple," Gage said. "I just have never seen that in all my years."
The president surmised in a press briefing Wednesday that Iran may want revenge for the U.S. killing its leadership.
TRUMP SAYS IRAN CEASEFIRE IS 'OVER' AFTER IRANIAN ATTACKS TRIGGER MASSIVE US RESPONSE
"They had leaders, they're gone, and they had another set of leaders, they're gone," Trump said. "Now they have another set of leaders, they may be gone. Who knows? And you know what, I may be gone too, because I'm their number one target."
The president was asked why twice he had alluded to Iran attempting to assassinate him.
"I speak about it a lot because the life of a president is very dangerous," he said. "I don't really care, because I'm doing my job, and I'm doing it, I hope better than anybody's ever done it, because we have a country that's hot and really, really successful ... I like being No. 1 on TikTok better. But I'm No. 1 on the list for killing."
The Iranian government did not return a request for comment on Trump's assertion.
During Thursday's funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran, mourners carried banners reading "Hey Trump, we will kill you" and "We will kill Trump" while chanting revenge slogans against the U.S. president.
The mourners were not publicly linked to Iranian leadership.
But, "banners like that can only be put together and carried with the permission of the Iranian government," Tom Warrick, a former Department of Homeland Security deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism policy and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Fox News Digital.
Warrick said it would make sense for Iran to try to kill Trump after the U.S. killed Khamenei.
"The starting point is understanding Iran's peculiar sense of symmetry. Anything that's done to them, they try to do back at somebody," Warrick told Fox News Digital. "Many of us expected there would be an Iranian attempt to kill President Trump, and they're likely to persist in this."
The summit aircraft change quickly fueled questions about whether the interim Air Force One had received the full suite of defensive upgrades carried by the legacy presidential aircraft.
Images of the jet and Air Force statements indicate that several complex modifications, including some missile detection and countermeasure systems, were intentionally left off the accelerated retrofitting.
Two aging Boeing VC-25A aircraft have served as Air Force One since 1990, while Boeing builds two new VC-25B aircraft to serve as Air Force One that originally were supposed to be completed in 2024. Now, that timeline has slipped to 2028 or 2029.
The U.S. spent $400 million upgrading the Qatari-donated jet to serve as Air Force One in the meantime.
The U.S. Air Force, which operates the presidential aircraft fleet, had previously said it prioritized certain modifications in order to bring the Qatari-donated Boeing 747 — known as the "Bridge" aircraft — into service on an accelerated timeline.
The Air Force said the rapid conversion was completed "without accepting any risk regarding security, safety, or secure communications," but acknowledged that "several highly complex engineering modifications required for the final (Air Force One aircraft) were intentionally excluded from the Bridge aircraft."
The Secret Service had recommended Trump use the older plane as a security precaution as hostilities fired up once again with Iran, The New York Times reported.
The White House declined to say whether the administration believes the threat to the president has changed following the latest escalation with Iran or whether the aircraft change was related to security concerns, but said the new Air Force One is secure.
"The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff," Steven Cheung, White House director of communications, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats."
The FBI declined to comment on whether the Iranian threat level had changed and the Secret Service did not return a request for comment.
Gage cautioned that he had no firsthand knowledge of why the aircraft was changed, but said that if reporting that the Secret Service recommended the switch was accurate, "the Secret Service would not have just said that in a vacuum, out of the blue. There must have been some kind of intelligence that prompted them."
Gage said the Secret Service, working with the broader intelligence community, likely has a dedicated team focused exclusively on monitoring threats from Iran directed at the president.
"There's probably 20 or 30 people every day that are working on that, going through reams of HUMINT and OSINT and trying to find that diamond in the rough," Gage said, referring to human intelligence and open-source intelligence.
Trump's comments came as a tenuous U.S.-Iran ceasefire unraveled.
The truce, formalized in a June memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan and other regional mediators, was intended to halt fighting for 60 days while the two sides negotiated a broader agreement. The deal called for Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and laid out a framework for future talks on sanctions relief and other issues.
But the agreement rapidly broke down after Iran attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting renewed U.S. military action. U.S. Central Command launched a new round of strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure tied to maritime operations and other military sites, while Trump declared the ceasefire "over" and warned of further action if Iran continued its attacks.
Questions about whether the threat had intensified gained new urgency Thursday after The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States indicating Iran had developed a fresh assassination plot targeting Trump. Trump repeatedly described himself during the NATO summit as Iran's top target and said he faces "a threat all the time."
Following the January 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Iranian officials have repeatedly vowed revenge, and U.S. officials have long warned that Tehran has sought to target current and former American officials involved in the operation.
The U.S. government has publicly alleged multiple Iran-linked assassination plots targeting Trump.
Following the U.S. killing of Soleimani in 2020, Iranian officials repeatedly vowed revenge, prompting the U.S. government to provide additional security to Trump and several former administration officials involved in the operation. The government has long warned that Tehran has sought to target current and former American officials linked to the strike.
In 2024, the Justice Department charged an alleged Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asset with directing a plot to surveil and assassinate then-President-elect Trump, describing it as part of Iran's broader campaign of retaliation.
Earlier that year, a Pakistani national with alleged ties to Iran was also charged in a separate murder-for-hire scheme. None of the domestic assassination attempts against Trump during the 2024 campaign have been publicly linked to Iran.
Marine vet Victor Marx narrowly notches victory in Colorado GOP gubernatorial primary
Marine veteran Victor Marx defeated Colorado state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and state Rep. Scott Bottoms in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary.
Marx edged out Kirkmeyer, who was the close runner-up in the June 30 contest, which The Associated Press finally called on Thursday. Bottoms came in a distant third place.
"THANK YOU, COLORADO. Because of you, your time, your door knocking, your phone calls, and your belief in something bigger than politics, we just won the Republican nomination for Governor," he declared in a part of a Thursday post on X.
Marx indicates on his campaign site that "as the founder of All Things Possible Ministries, I’ve led more than 150 high-stakes missions across some of the world’s most dangerous regions — delivering trauma relief, medical aid, and hope to victims of terrorism, trafficking, and violence."
Marx alleged in his memoir that when he was 7 years old, his stepfather placed his hand around his own and made him shoot and kill someone, The Denver Post reported.
"While we came up short in what appears to be the closest Republican gubernatorial primary in Colorado history, I'm grateful for every voter who placed their trust in us," Kirkmeyer said in part of a statement on Thursday. "I'm still proud of the campaign we ran... and, for the record, I still haven't killed anyone."
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is the Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
"From the little we know about Victor Marx, his views and style are far out of step with Coloradans, and his nomination for governor is a threat to our state’s values and our future," Weiser said in part of a Thursday statement.
ANTI-TRUMP SENATOR DEFEATED BY FAR-LEFT RIVAL AFTER HEATED GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
The state has not elected a Republican in a gubernatorial race since 2002.