President Donald Trump commented on intelligence reports alleging Iranian sleeper cells in the US and a potential revenge drone attack on California targets.
The concerns stem from encrypted messages, intercepted by US intelligence and traced to Iran, that served as an “operational trigger” for “sleeper assets” on Monday. The FBI warned California authorities of possible Iranian drone strikes from an unidentified vessel off the West Coast, in retaliation for US military actions against Iran.
An FBI alert, obtained by ABC News, stated: “Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles… specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran.” It added, “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews after a rally in Kentucky, Trump said federal law enforcement is investigating the drone threat: “It’s being investigated. You have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come.”
He blamed former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies—calling him “the worst president in the history of our country”—for enabling the cells. “A lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border,” Trump said. “But we know where most of them are. We’ve got our eye on all of them, I think.”
Trump also highlighted his administration’s progress in the war against Iran: “Iran is being absolutely decimated. We’ve knocked out all of their boats. I think we’re in very good shape.”
He further criticized Democrats, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for partially shutting down the Department of Homeland Security, which he said hampers responses. “One of the things we have to do is get the Democrats to stop the Democrat shutdown… Schumer and the Democrats have shut it down,” Trump said, adding that it shows they “probably hate our country a lot.”