Iranian state media this week broadcast a video threatening the life of Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump. Responding to the video, Secret Service spokesman Nate Herring stated: "The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the video and investigates anything that can be perceived as a threat toward our protectees."
Hostilities between the nations flared when Israel and the US launched an attack on Iran on February 28, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and igniting the war. Since then, images and videos have surfaced online from Iranian media issuing threats against Trump and his family members.
Barron Bounty
This week, an Iranian state television broadcast appeared to offer a $10 million reward for the life of Barron Trump. The clip was disseminated by a media organisation affiliated with the IRGC, posing the question: "Where and how should we kill Barron Trump?"
The ominous footage also featured locations where the 20-year-old is purportedly known to spend time, along with claims that his movements were being "fully monitored". A federal law enforcement source told CNN that the video forms part of a broader Iranian propaganda campaign aimed at Trump and his family.
Coffin Billboards
Last month saw the unveiling of a billboard in Tehran displaying portraits of Donald Trump and his family alongside coffins draped in the American flag. It was unveiled in Palestine Square and at that point, it represented the most personal threat issued. The billboard's slogan, set against a backdrop of the White House, read "Blood for Blood".
It seemed to be a reaction to the senior figures in Iran's leadership and their families who were killed in February. The unsettling image also featured Trump's wife, Melania, along with his five children, Ivanka, Barron, Tiffany, Donald Jnr and Eric.
Around the same period, another display emerged in Enghelab Square, seemingly depicting Trump with his eyes shut in an open casket. Below it, the words: "We kill Trump." However, these are merely two instances, and there have been numerous others, including images of Trump with his face in the crosshairs of a rifle.
Fleeing AF1
The relentless propaganda and explicit threats towards Trump and his closest family appeared to take a toll last month, when the president allegedly slipped away from Air Force One in a catering cart, as part of a ploy in response to a potential Iranian assassination attempt.
The 80-year-old was leaving the NATO summit in Turkey on July 8 and following rumours of an assassination attempt, a senior official told the New York Times that Trump was transported by a food trolley that had been attached to the underside of a plane to a different aircraft, which he then travelled secretly to the UK in.
Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, said in response to threats: "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 - including distraction and misdirection - to address those threats."
'Where to Kill Melania'
Propaganda merchants have been working overtime in Iran in recent weeks and in July a clip surfaced from Iran threatening both Melania and her son Barron. The title of the video was: "Where to kill Melania."
It urged "freedom fighters" to eliminate her after displaying her motorcade travelling through New York and it concluded with a warning to her son which was: "Barron Trump, wait for us!". Secret Service spokesman Nate Herring said they were aware of the video and added that they investigate "anything that can be perceived as a threat toward our protectees". He added: "Out of concern for operational security, we do not discuss matters of protective intelligence."
