A reckless assassination plot fell apart dramatically.
An individual allegedly tied to Iran thought he could execute a plan against Donald Trump for just $5,000, as revealed in a recently released video. The plan included placing an e-cigarette on a napkin to identify his “target.”
“This is your target. How are you going to die?” Asif Merchant said, gesturing toward a cream-colored vaping device in a hotel room equipped with hidden FBI cameras, footage presented to a Brooklyn jury showed.
Merchant, a 47-year-old from Pakistan, discussed his intentions during a recorded meeting on June 4, 2024, with a new associate who was cooperating with federal authorities.
“Look, it’s so easy to kill this from here,” he indicated, referencing the e-cigarette on a napkin inside the Floral Park Motor Lodge in Queens.
U.S. officials allege that Iran has sought to target Trump in retaliation for the 2020 drone strike that killed a key Iranian military leader, Qasem Soleimani, during Trump’s presidency.
Merchant seemed to think he would evade consequences, planning to harm more individuals he believed were “harming Pakistan and the world and the Muslim world,” as indicated by the video.
“This isn’t just a one-time job. The work carries on,” said the informant who testified using the name “Nadeem Ali.”
The FBI intervened, arresting Merchant in July of that year as he attempted to leave the country after giving two alleged hitmen—actually undercover agents—$5,000 each as a deposit for the planned attack.
Merchant even attempted to stage a fake protest at one of Trump’s rallies, believing this half-hearted strategy might help the hitmen escape scrutiny. He also talked about stealing government documents during discussions with Ali.
While Merchant never directly named Trump, court documents confirm that the former president was his target, and he had searched online for Trump’s rally locations.
Ali, who described himself as a “delivery man,” shared his journey from Pakistan to the U.S. at 18, serving as a U.S. Army linguist in Afghanistan. He gave testimony in Merchant’s federal trial in Brooklyn, where Merchant faces a life sentence for murder-for-hire and terrorism.
Ali mentioned that a friend from the close-knit Pakistani community in New York had introduced him to Merchant, under the pretext of collaborating in a clothing business.
During several interactions, Ali felt uneasy, suspecting he was under surveillance by an unmarked car, which made him fearful of potential Taliban involvement. This prompted him to alert the authorities.
The FBI encouraged Ali to record his conversations with Merchant, and he later testified that he received $20,000 for his cooperation.
Merchant, who arrived in the U.S. from Pakistan in April 2024 on a temporary visa, claimed he was a “visitor” with government permission.
U.S. officials have labeled him an agent of the Iranian regime. He didn’t disclose who was backing him but hinted at some connections in Iran that were assisting his wife’s immigration issues, as disclosed in a recording shown in court.
Merchant has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers have portrayed him as a family man, noting he maintains separate families with wives and children in both Pakistan and Iran, a situation they argue is “perfectly legal.”
