President Donald Trump has reportedly left secret instructions for Vice President J.D. Vance to follow if Trump dies while in office, according to a senior administration official.
Sebastian Gorka, a counterterrorism official and longtime Trump ally, told the New York Post that Trump prepared “precise instructions” that would be handed to Vance if he were forced to assume the presidency during Trump’s second term.
Gorka said the vice president would also receive a handwritten letter allegedly stored inside the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. According to the report, the letter contains instructions related to how the administration should respond if Trump were assassinated.
The White House has not publicly confirmed the existence of the letter or the reported protocols.
Gorka Raises Concerns About Foreign Threats
The remarks came as Trump traveled to China for meetings with President Xi Jinping amid tensions involving trade, artificial intelligence, and the ongoing conflict connected to Iran.
During the interview, Gorka claimed foreign adversaries may see Trump as a major obstacle to their geopolitical ambitions.
“He alone stands between them and world domination,” Gorka said while discussing China. He also suggested hostile actors could attempt unconventional methods to harm the president, including “putting something in the air that makes him sick 30 days later.”
However, Gorka added that he did not believe Trump was in immediate danger and said the president remained well protected during the overseas trip.
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“The President, in my estimation, is very safe,” Gorka told the Post.
Trump has previously spoken publicly about threats against him. In January, he said he had left “very firm instructions” for Iran to face severe military consequences if the country succeeded in assassinating him.
The comments were tied to long-running tensions between Washington and Tehran following the U.S. killing of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani during Trump’s first term in office.
Security Concerns Resurface
Questions surrounding presidential security have intensified in recent months following several incidents involving threats against Trump.
Last month, Secret Service agents reportedly rushed Trump and other senior officials from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a man carrying a shotgun breached a nearby security checkpoint. Vice President Vance and several Cabinet officials were also escorted away from the area.
Trump has survived previous assassination attempts and has remained a central figure in American politics despite ongoing security concerns and legal battles.
The president’s trip to China has also drawn attention because of the high-profile delegation traveling with him. Senior diplomatic advisers, business leaders, and technology executives joined Trump during the visit, while Vance remained in the United States.
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Neither Trump nor Vance has publicly commented on the reported letter or the alleged instructions mentioned by Gorka.
The reported existence of a handwritten letter focused on retaliation and response measures has sparked intense online discussion.
Why This Matters
The report reflects the growing security fears surrounding the U.S. presidency during a period of heightened international tensions and domestic political division.
Trump’s public references to assassination threats, combined with Gorka’s remarks about foreign adversaries, are likely to increase debate over presidential protection and the risks faced by American leaders while traveling abroad.
The claims also draw renewed attention to Vice President J.D. Vance and the constitutional role he would assume if a crisis involving the president occurred.
