'Low credibility': CIA doubted Israeli intelligence on threat to assassinate Trump

US intelligence officials expressed skepticism toward Israeli intelligence about an Iranian threat to assassinate Trump, which led to a covert operation in Turkey. The CIA did not find the information convincing, and some assess it was meant to influence the president's policy. The operation took place on July 8.

US intelligence officials expressed skepticism about an Iranian threat to assassinate President Donald Trump, information provided by Israel that led to a covert maneuver in Turkey. According to a report published today (Thursday) in the Washington Post, the Israeli information was passed to the CIA, where analysts did not find it convincing and conveyed their doubts to senior Trump administration officials. An official said the information 'originating from Israel, was not produced by the United States, and is at a low level of credibility.' Some American intelligence officials assess that sharing the warning was intended to influence decision-makers in Washington, not just to inform. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen expressed doubts about the credibility of the information and the ability to verify it independently. Despite the doubts, the White House and the Secret Service decided not to take risks and executed a complex plan. The covert operation took place on July 8, when Trump left the NATO summit in Ankara; due to security concerns about the new 747-8 aircraft gifted by Qatar, he was secretly transported via a catering truck to a military C-32A aircraft, which flew him to Britain escorted by fighter jets. Trump himself said he does what the Secret Service tells him.