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Trump suggests a standing order to attack Iran if it assassinates him. But Vance would make the call
By Will Weissert, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 11, 2026
· 6 min read
President Donald Trump is suggesting he has left standing orders for the U.S. military to destroy Iran “ at levels they've never seen before ” if Tehran follows through on its long-standing threats to kill him. But the U.S. government has no way to create an automatic, preauthorized “dead man’s s...
Key takeaway Instead, if Trump were killed, the transfer of power to his successor is governed by the 25th Amendment and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.
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About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 11, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? President Donald Trump is suggesting he has left standing orders for the U.S. military to destroy Iran “ at levels they've never seen before ” if Tehran follows through on its long-standing threats to kill him. But the U.S. government has no way to create an automatic, preauthorized “dead man’s s...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 11, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Will Weissert, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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