Donald Trump: ‘Letter in a drawer’: Donald Trump leaves JD Vance succession instructions in Oval Office

A senior White House official claimed that the President of the United States Donald Trump Detailed instructions have been left for Vice President Vance in the event of an assassination attempt or other emergency during his second term.Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism, made the remarks during an interview on the “Pod Force One” podcast hosted by Miranda Devine.“There is a letter in the drawer of Resolute’s desk that is addressed to the vice president if anything happens to the vice president,” Gorka said, according to the New York Post.“We have a deal, believe me. It’s not for me to discuss, but we have a deal,” he added.Gorka addressed the succession arrangements while discussing security concerns surrounding Trump’s ongoing trip to China.

Trump made the above remarks during his visit to China

Trump is currently in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on trade relations, artificial intelligence and broader geopolitical tensions.While Gorka described Trump as an “existential threat to China,” he dismissed concerns that foreign powers might try to target Trump during the visit.“He’s the only one standing between them and world domination, so they have every reason to get rid of him,” Gorka said, before adding that he didn’t believe such an attack would happen.“I’m not afraid of all of them doing something,” he said. “It seems to me that the president is very safe.”Gorka also praised Trump’s global influence, saying: “Everyone wants to be recognized by this man. This is the most powerful man we’ve seen since Eisenhower and others.”

Trump survives multiple assassination attempts

The comments come in the wake of numerous assassination attempts against Trump in recent years.In July 2024, Trump was assassinated at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks shot the president in the ear and was then shot dead by Secret Service agents.Another suspect, Ryan Routh, was later arrested after allegedly hiding near Trump’s golf course in Florida while carrying a rifle. He was charged and later sentenced to life in prison, the report said.More recently, another incident occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington in April, in which a suspect named Cole Thomas Allen broke through a security checkpoint and opened fire before being subdued by security personnel.Trump, first lady Melania Trump and J.D. Vance were safely evacuated.According to the U.S. Constitution, the Vice President is first in line of succession to the President. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 further stipulates the order of succession after the Vice President.