In a new propaganda video released Sunday, the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, urged Muslims living in the United States to take revenge for the White House’s pro-Israel stance, calling explicitly for the assassination of President Donald Trump and several of his top advisers.
“Do not consult anyone before killing the American infidels,” al-Awlaki says in the 34-minute video titled Inciting the Believers. “Go strike the worst criminals on Earth: Trump, his vice president [JD Vance], his advisers, and his supporters in finance, administration, and technology.”
Alongside Trump and Vance, the video names prominent figures in the current Republican administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. According to sources familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments, Elon Musk is also mentioned by name in the message.
“Strike them, their families, and anyone connected to the politicians of the White House,” al-Awlaki adds. “After everything that has been inflicted upon our people in Gaza, there are no more red lines.”
The jihadist leader also directs his ire at the Jewish community, openly encouraging attacks wherever Jews may be found. “Do not leave any safe place for the Jews, just as they have left no shelters, homes, or respite for the Palestinians,” he says. “Even hospitals are being bombed over the heads of the sick, the women, the children, and the elderly. Take revenge.”
Al-Awlaki assumed command of AQAP in March 2024. He is currently wanted by the U.S. State Department, which has offered a $6 million reward for information leading to his capture. His appointment marked a renewed phase of aggression for the group, long regarded as one of the most active and deadly branches of the global jihadist movement. Though based in Yemen, AQAP maintains sympathizers and operational reach across parts of the West.
AQAP has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States for years. While U.S. officials have made no public statements regarding potential countermeasures, intelligence analysts are treating the latest video as a possible attempt to inspire lone-wolf attacks on American soil.
The video’s release comes at a politically sensitive moment for the Trump administration, already under pressure for its handling of the Middle East crisis and facing escalating tensions with sectors of the radicalized Islamic world. Graphic images from Gaza have become a rallying point for extremist propaganda, further fueling anti-American sentiment.
According to leaked assessments, U.S. intelligence agencies are closely analyzing the video out of concern it could trigger violent acts by isolated individuals or sleeper cells influenced by global jihadist narratives.
Trump, who appeared days ago alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a visit to Morristown Municipal Airport, has not commented publicly on the threat. Vice President JD Vance’s office issued a brief statement, calling al-Awlaki’s remarks “a demonstration of the desperation of those who have lost all ability to influence events by lawful means.”
