Iranian State TV Hosts Fundraising Campaign to Assassinate President Trump
On August 15, 2026, Iranian state broadcaster Qoran TV aired a controversial program in which presenter Maryam Kasemi called on viewers to contribute money toward a bounty for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump. Kasemi expressed explicit wishes for Trump's death and urged the audience to propose monetary amounts as rewards for his killer, stating, "The shared wish of all the Iranian people these days is to one day announce the news of Trump's death on this program. God willing, it will happen soon." She added personally, "I hope to have the honor of announcing it."
During the broadcast, Kasemi asked viewers to name the sums they would donate to the cause, emphasizing that the reward should be substantial. According to the program, by the time of airing, 81 million Iranian toman (810 million rials) had been collected, approximately $435 USD. A local doctor identified only as "Doctor" contributed additional funds, raising the total to 100 million toman. Despite the seemingly large local currency amounts, the total sum in U.S. dollars remains minimal.
The broadcast was translated and disseminated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). This event highlights ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, with Iran reportedly preparing for potential escalations in Europe as well. The program's airing on official Iranian television marks a rare and provocative public call for violence against a sitting U.S. president.
