President Donald Trump keeps a letter in the Resolute Desk addressed to Vice President JD Vance in the event he dies or is assassinated, according to a senior White House counterterrorism official.
The official, Sebastian Gorka, revealed the existence of the letter during a podcast interview amid renewed focus on security threats facing the president during his trip to China.
While the contents of the letter remain unknown, its existence underscores heightened concern around presidential succession as Trump approaches 80 and travels abroad.
Why This MattersTrump is traveling internationally just weeks after multiple assassination plots were disclosed publicly.The revelation reignites scrutiny of presidential succession and continuity planning.Trump’s age and health have become central political issues ahead of the election cycle.How Many Assassination Attempts Has Trump Survived?
Trump, who turns 80 next month, has survived three publicly known assassination attempts in less than two years, including incidents in Butler, Pennsylvania; West Palm Beach, Florida; and most recently in Washington, D.C.
July 2024 (Butler, PA): Trump wounded; one attendee killed.West Palm Beach, FL: Authorities later described the incident as a foiled plot.Washington, D.C.: Most recent publicly known attempt disrupted.
The Butler rally shooting in July 2024 left Trump wounded in the ear and killed one attendee, while authorities later described the Florida and Washington incidents as foiled assassination plots targeting the president.
In addition to assassination attempts, age and fitness have been central political issues in recent years, particularly during the 2024 presidential race between then-President Joe Biden, then 81, and Trump, then 78. Some critics of Trump have pointed to his age and the deaths of several members of Congress in office to renew calls for age limits and broader concerns about aging political leadership in Washington. His allies and administration have pushed back, stating the president is in good health.
Several other presidents have survived assassination attempts, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Harry Truman, and Theodore Roosevelt.
What To Know Why Trump’s China Trip Raised Security Questions
Gorka’s comments come as Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, just one month after a gunman disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in an assassination attempt.
Devine asked the counterterrorism czar, “Do you have concerns, as I do and others do in the administration, who have expressed privately to me about President Trump going to China to visit President Xi? He [Trump] is the existential threat to China. He alone stands between them and world domination, so they have every reason in the world to take him out.”
Gorka does not share Devine’s fear, saying on the podcast, “Absolutely not. I have no fear at all of them doing something.” He added, “The president, from my estimation, is very safe.” Trump, along with about a dozen U.S. executives, arrived in China on Wednesday for a two-day summit.
What Gorka Said About the Letter
The Trump official, however, did note, “There is a letter in the drawer in the Resolute Desk that is addressed to the vice president should something happen to him.” He did not detail what is in the letter.
What Happens If a President Dies in Office?
The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishes the order of succession if the president dies or is killed. The vice president shall immediately become acting president if that occurs, as has happened four times.
Vice President Andrew Johnson succeeded President Abraham Lincoln after Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, and nearly two decades later, Chester Arthur succeeded President James Garfield following Garfield’s assassination in 1881.
In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt succeeded President William McKinley after he was assassinated, and later Lyndon B. Johnson took office after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Order of U.S. Presidential Succession
The U.S. Constitution lays out a clear chain of command if a president dies or is incapacitated.
Vice President JD Vance Speaker of the House Mike JohnsonPresident Pro Tempore of the Senate Chuck Grassley
Next in line would be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Todd Blanche (acting), Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling (acting), Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, and then Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.
What to Watch NextWhether the White House provides further details about presidential continuity planning.Security measures surrounding Trump’s future foreign travel.Renewed debate over age, health, and presidential fitness heading into the election cycle.