Pakistan has posted photos of Trump’s death in the case of an alleged assassination plot in Iran

A Pakistani man suspected of having ties to Iran shared photos online showing the death of President Donald Trump, prosecutors said Tuesday, describing the posts as part of a wider plot to kill American politicians, possibly including the president.

Authorities said Merchant conspired with Iran to assassinate American diplomats in 2024, echoing Iran’s threats against the United States that occurred years before Trump launched strikes against the country starting Saturday.

An FBI special agent showed a court in Brooklyn, New York, photos of Asif Merchant, who is on trial this week on charges of attempting to commit an act of terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

Merchant was indicted in July 2024 after he was caught on camera describing a plot to kill an unnamed politician and an informant. The dealer allegedly also tried to hire two beaten men and pay them $5,000, but the men were FBI agents posing as killers.

The indictment does not name Trump, but a law enforcement source confirmed to Fox News that Trump was the preferred target, and defense attorneys have named Trump as a target in court documents.

Merchant’s case comes against the backdrop of Trump launching a massive military campaign in cooperation with Israel against Iran. Trump did not seek authorization from Congress to carry out the offensive action against Iran, called Operation Epic Fury, which has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, as well as some Republicans, that he launched an “illegal” war.

Conservative legal experts have argued that Trump is acting within his bounds under Article II, which allows the commander-in-chief to direct military operations and act to protect US forces and interests in critical situations.

Merchant was arrested while trying to leave the country, before he took concrete steps to carry out the murder plot. Authorities, at the time, said he appeared to be acting at the behest of Iran.

TRUMP SAYS ‘I GOT HIM BEFORE HE GOT ME’ AFTER KILLING IRAN’S LEADER IN A STRIKE

President Donald Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, Aug. 21, 2024. (Photo by PETER ZAY/AFP via Getty Images)

“This dangerous murder-for-hire plot was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and comes from the Iranian regime’s playbook,” said then-FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Merchant’s lawyers countered in their opening statement last week that their client, who has two wives, cares about his religion and his families, saying he is innocent and that politicians are lying.

Federal prosecutors said in court Tuesday that in addition to pictures of Trump, Merchant also posted pictures of former President Joe Biden online. Some of the images date back to 2020, when Biden was president and Trump was a presidential contender.

An Iranian flag is placed among the ruins of a police station that was hit Monday during a US-Israeli military operation in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)

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The photos included Trump digging his own grave next to a headstone with his name on it and a photo of Trump’s severed head with the words “coming soon.” The comment under the photo is “Allah willing.” Another image was a wanted poster for Trump, shared on June 30, 2020, which read, “Iran issues arrest warrant for Trump.”

The seller’s case is still ongoing. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence.

Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

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