Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump is 'deeply alarming' and open border could be to blame, say Republicans demanding Biden take action

Iran's reported plot to assassinate Donald Trump is alarming but not surprising, Republicans say, adding that Biden needs to make clear an attempt would be an act of war. 

The Secret Service ramped up security around Donald Trump after receiving intelligence of an Iranian assassination plot in the weeks before he was shot at the Pennsylvania rally, a bombshell report revealed Tuesday. 

Despite the heightened security, 20-year-old gunman Thomas Mathew Crooks was still able to climb on a roof just 130 yards away from the former president and open fire with a clear line of sight.

The staggering would-be assassination plot by the hostile nation, first reported by CNN, raises more questions about the Secret Service and the massive security failure that led to the attempt on Trump's life.  

And the devious plot comes as no surprise, House Republicans told DailyMail.com, who are calling on President Joe Biden to step up and send a message to Iran. 

'The Iranian regime has a longstanding history of targeting U.S. nationals on American soil, including former Trump officials,' House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul told DailyMail.com.

'I am deeply alarmed by recent reports that the Iranian regime may now even be plotting against former President Trump. A swift and thorough investigation into these allegations is needed.'

'The Biden administration must promptly release its findings to the American public,' the Texan added. 

Another important chairman, Mike Turner of the House Intelligence Committee, also sounded the alarm. 

'This is based upon a known and continuous and existing threat from Iran to President Tump  and members of his cabinet,' he said on CNN Tuesday afternoon.

'President Biden needs to make clear this would be an act of war that clearly Iran would pay a horrible price for any attempt to attack Donald Trump.'

'We have known, and it's been publicly acknowledged for some time, that Iran has known and existing threats to Donald Trump and his former cabinet members.' 

But the Secret Service's reaction to the report and their subsequent failed security for Trump during his Butler, Pennsylvania, show the agency needs a shake up. 

'It's just unexplainable,' Turner said of Crooks' nearly fatal shots at Trump. He also said an immediate review needs to take place. 

'It appears that his secret service is in shambles,' he added. 'Clearly they have not risen to the occasion.' 

Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, told DailyMail.com the report has caused him great concern, particularly because of the lax security protocols at the U.S-Mexico border. 

'We have a Department of Homeland Security that has left our border completely open despite the fact that we know known terrorists are coming across the border,' he said. 

'They want an open border, so what this means, in the context of what we've seen over the weekend, is very dangerous.'

'Certainly the foreign threat attached to that because of our open borders is very concerning.' 

He said the Secret Service Director should resign, saying it would be 'the only proper response of honor.'

Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., told DailyMail.com that the Iranian plot to kill Trump is far from shocking. 

'Sadly, it's not a surprise the Iranian regime is the central area of terrorism for the world,' he said. 'They support Hamas. They support Hezbollah, they support every group that hates Israel and hates the United States of America.'

He particularly laid blame on the Biden administration's relationship with Iranian leaders.  

'So why the Biden administration continues to have this somewhat inexplicable affinity for creating relationships along with Iran is very, very disturbing to everybody as well.'

'You know, they lifted sanctions on Iran when they came into office,' he said, adding the policy decision filled Iranian coffers with billions of dollars. 

'So the Biden administration has done a horrible job handling Iran, if fueling their ability to enact terrorist actions around the world, and Iran is targeting American leaders.'

'I just hope we, we have the fortitude to eliminate them before they have any chance to eliminate us,' he said.  

It does not appear that Saturday's shooter is connected to the Iranian plot. 

Crooks, 20, shot Trump in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday before he was taken out by U.S. Secret Service.

The new report of enhanced security around the former president could raise even more questions after Republican outcry ensued on how Secret Service failed to detect the would-be assassin before he opened fire at the rally.  

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has faced calls to resign over the massive security failure and claims there was no presence on top of the building where Crooks shot at Trump because it had a sloped roof. 

Ever since the attack that took out Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani, Iran has vowed revenge. The attack took place under Trump's presidency in January 2020.

Officials who worked on national security in Trump's administration have had tight security teams since then.

And in March, the FBI posted a notice seeking information on an alleged Iranian spy the agency believed is 'involved in plots to kill current and former US government officials.' 

U.S. authorities were provided intelligence from a source in recent weeks detailing the Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, multiple people briefed on the situation told CNN.

In a statement on Sunday, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the agency recently 'added protective resources and capabilities to the former President's security detail.'

Trump's campaign has received multiple warnings more recently about their outdoor rallies because it poses higher risks than indoor events that have controlled access points to the venue.

But sources claim these warnings were more general in nature and did not specifically disclose the threat from Iran.

The roof where Crooks was positioned to try and assassinate Trump was just 147 yards from where Trump was speaking on stage.

While local police snipers were inside the manufacturing building, none were on top because of the sloped roof, Cheatle claims.

'That building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point. And so, you know, there's a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn't want to put somebody up on a sloped roof,' the Secret Service chief told ABC News in an interview Tuesday.

'And so, you know, the decision was made to secure the building, from inside.'

Witnesses pleaded for law enforcement to act when they saw Crooks climb onto the roof with his AR-style rifle, but the lapse in security allowed him to remain there for up to 30 minutes before he pulled the trigger.

The mistakes that led to Trump nearly escaping death sparked calls for Cheatle to step down, but she has refused.

Saturday's assassination attempt on Trump does not appear to be connected to the Iranian plan to carry out their own attacks against the former president and now officially the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. 

Crooks was a registered Republican who in 2021 donated to a group backing President Joe Biden. He graduated high school in 2022 in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania and was described as a loner who was bullied.

The gunman was neutralized by agents seconds after he shot Trump in the ear.

He killed one rally goer, former fire chief and father-of-two Corey Comperatore, 50, and critically injured two others – David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74.

Just four months before Saturday's attempt, the FBI posted a notice requesting information on an alleged Iranian spy it believed to be involved in assassination plots.

Majid Farahani, 42, is accused by the FBI of plotting revenge killings after Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a Trump administration-led attack.

The FBI claims Farahani is acting on behalf of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence.