Iranian state television recently broadcast a banner featuring a direct assassination threat against former U.S. President Donald Trump, declaring, 'This time, the bullet won't miss.' The imagery shown alongside this chilling message was taken from a failed assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, where a gunman fired at him, grazing his ear. The attacker, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents during the incident. This provocative broadcast by Iranian state-run media has drawn sharp condemnation from U.S. officials, who are treating it as a serious national security matter. The timing of this threat, widely reported on January 14, 2026, coincides with elevated tensions between the United States and Iran. Relations have been particularly strained since the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, with Iranian officials repeatedly vowing retaliation. Moreover, the threat emerges amidst ongoing anti-government protests in Iran, which have been met with a harsh crackdown by the regime, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths and arrests. President Trump has voiced support for these protesters, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard has accused the U.S. and Israel of instigating the unrest. While the Iranian government has not officially claimed responsibility for this specific television threat, it is widely interpreted as a direct challenge to the U.S. and its former leader, raising concerns about potential escalation and instability in the region. U.S. authorities have previously disclosed disrupted plots linked to Iran targeting Trump, underscoring the ongoing nature of these security concerns.