Iranian news agency video threatening Melania Trump under investigation by US Secret Service
The two-minute video, titled "Where to Kill Melania?!", uses artificial intelligence-generated imagery, satellite images and publicly available information to depict what it describes as an assessment of the First Lady's movements, shopping habits and security arrangements in New York City
The US Secret Service is investigating a propaganda video released by an Iranian news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that threatens First Lady Melania Trump and her son, Barron Trump, a spokesperson said.
The two-minute video, titled "Where to Kill Melania?!", uses artificial intelligence-generated imagery, satellite images and publicly available information to depict what it describes as an assessment of the First Lady's movements, shopping habits and security arrangements in New York City, says LBC UK.
According to descriptions of the video, it suggests possible methods of carrying out an attack against Melania Trump and ends with a warning directed at her 20-year-old son.
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"This is just the beginning. Barron Trump, wait for us."
The Secret Service said it was aware of the video and was examining it as a potential threat.
"The Secret Service is aware of the video and investigates anything that can be perceived as a threat toward our protectees," said Nate Herring, spokesman for the US Secret Service.
Security experts said material of this nature should be treated seriously, regardless of whether it is intended primarily as propaganda.
"Content depicting threats, encouraging violence or providing instructions intended to help terror cells or lone actors carry out attacks or assassination plots must be taken extremely seriously," said Aran Dharmeratnam, a security expert in protective intelligence.
One analyst specialising in Iranian external operations said the video's primary purpose appeared to be psychological rather than operational.
"Iranian state media inciting against the President's family and First Lady is of greater cognitive than kinetic value, and likely feeds into Tehran's posturing and attempts to project strength..." the analyst said.
The video was released amid broader anti-Trump messaging in Iran following the death of Iran's former supreme leader in a US-Israeli strike earlier this year. According to analysts, the campaign has included public displays portraying members of the Trump family in coffins.
The video concludes with the words: "Wait for us."
