In a revealing conversation on the “Pod Force One” podcast, Sebastian Gorka, a prominent figure within the White House, disclosed that President Trump has crafted meticulous guidelines for Vice President JD Vance. These instructions are meant to guide Vance should he need to take over during what would be Trump’s second term in office.
Gorka, who spearheads the Trump administration’s efforts against terrorism, shared with The Post’s Miranda Devine in a freshly released episode that he feels confident about the security measures in place for the 47th president. He expressed no concern over potential assassination attempts by foreign foes.
Despite this confidence, Gorka acknowledged the existence of a structured plan for leadership succession, emphasizing the importance of preparedness. He pointed out that if a foreign power like China were to succeed in eliminating Trump, there are established protocols to manage such a crisis.
“There is a letter stored in the Resolute Desk, specifically addressed to the vice president, ready to guide him if necessary,” Gorka explained. He assured listeners, “We have protocols, trust me. While I can’t divulge all details, rest assured they are there.”
Earlier in January, Trump had affirmed that he had given “very firm instructions” to retaliate against Iran should they attempt to follow through on threats against him. However, he did not reference any written instructions for Vance situated within the Oval Office.
Trump in January said he’s left “very firm instructions” for Iran to be “blown up” if the US adversary makes good on threats to assassinate him — but didn’t mention any note to Vance located in the Oval Office.
“I’ve left notification,” the president told NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight” in response to death threats from Iran, “[if] anything ever happens, we’re going to blow the – the whole country is going to get blown up.”
Trump is headed to China to meet with President Xi Jinping this week to discuss trade relations with the US, the rise of artificial intelligence and concerns about Beijing’s expansion of its nuclear weapons, among other issues.
Every week, Post columnist Miranda Devine sits down for exclusive and candid conversations with the most influential disruptors in Washington on ‘Pod Force One.’ Subscribe here!
Some Trump advisers and lawmakers have also seen the summit as an opportunity for the president to enlist China’s help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and winding down the Iran war, though that’s not expected to be a focus of the talks.
The president has succeeded so far in his second term in making himself “the existential threat to China,” Gorka noted, prompting some to express concerns about Trump’s safety during the trip.
“He alone stands between them and world domination, so they have every reason in the world to take him out,” the counterterrorism chief said. “Now, they may not do it there, obviously, but as someone said to me, they could just put something in the air that makes him sick 30 days later.”
But he hastily added, “I have no fear at all of them doing something,” affirming that “the president, in my estimation, is very safe.”
“Everybody wants recognition from this man,” Gorka continued. “This is the most powerful individual we have seen since the likes of Eisenhower. This is a man everybody wants to be at the table with him, to have the State dinner, to have the recognition.”
“The idea that you do something that undermines your recognition goes against what they wish to have,” he added.
Full Episode
Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts — two of which occurred during his successful 2024 presidential campaign.
Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13 that year but was shot and killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper. Trump was struck in the right ear by one of his bullets.
Ryan Routh hid on the president’s golf course in Florida but was unable to get off a shot from his sniper’s nest before being fired upon by agents on Trump’s security detail. He was later arrested, charged and sentenced to life in prison.
Trump phoned JD just 10 minutes after the incident and told his running-mate, “JD, you’re not going to believe this, but they tried to do it again,’” Vance later recalled.
The latest would-be assassin, Cole Allen, tried to open fire at the president inside the Washington Hilton on April 25 during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner — but was subdued by Secret Service agents before making it to the ballroom floor.
“The people that do the most, the people that have the biggest impact — they’re the ones that they go after,” Trump told reporters at a press conference immediately following the attempt on his life.
Allen, 31, has been charged with four counts — including attempted assassination of the president and assault on a federal law enforcement officer — and pleaded not guilty on Monday in federal court.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth has revealed that an Iranian official who plotted an earlier assassination attempt against Trump during the final weeks of the 2024 campaign was also killed during Operation Epic Fury in March.
