Al-Qaeda’s Sa’ad al-Awlaki has issued a direct call for the killings of U.S. political and business leaders, including former President Trump and Elon Musk, claiming such attacks are a religious obligation for Muslims around the world.
At a Glance
- Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s leader has called for the assassination of top American political and corporate figures
- Sa’ad al-Awlaki identified Trump, his allies, and Elon Musk as “legitimate” targets
- He described these killings as “the greatest jihad today” and a religious imperative
- Experts warn Al-Qaeda’s decentralized structure and youthful leadership make it harder to dismantle
- The group’s global reach and evolving media tactics are intensifying concerns over lone-wolf terrorism
Chilling Call to Action
In a newly surfaced video, AQAP leader Sa’ad al-Awlaki incited followers to carry out high-profile assassinations, naming U.S. political figures and business moguls as targets. Al-Awlaki urged Muslims, particularly in the West, to treat these killings as an urgent form of jihad, dramatically escalating Al-Qaeda’s rhetoric from general anti-Americanism to direct calls for murder.
Among those named: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and members of Trump’s administration, alongside broader references to American military infrastructure and economic contributors to U.S. defense. Intelligence analysts note the messaging is not just symbolic—it’s a tactical call for lone-wolf violence that could bypass traditional detection networks.
Al-Qaeda’s Strategic Shift
Security officials stress that this threat is part of Al-Qaeda’s broader reinvention. As ISIS has faded from the global spotlight, Al-Qaeda has regrouped under younger leaders like al-Awlaki, refining its digital outreach and operating through dispersed cells. According to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, the organization now avoids centralized command, making leadership strikes less effective.
Al-Awlaki’s statement—framing assassination as “the greatest jihad” and encouraging attacks against not just Americans, but Arab leaders allied with the West—highlights the group’s ideological realignment toward targeting perceived apostates and collaborators in the Muslim world.
Widening Reach, Deepening Risk
With leadership no longer confined to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Al-Qaeda now operates through franchises in Yemen, North Africa, the Sahel, and Southeast Asia. Analysts warn that the group is adapting to local dynamics, using regional grievances to recruit while keeping its eyes on Western targets.
The specificity of the latest threats raises alarms in counterterrorism circles. By urging followers not to “consult anyone about killing infidels,” al-Awlaki is encouraging autonomous acts of terror—making detection by authorities far more difficult. Experts say the risk of inspired, uncoordinated attacks is now higher than in years past, especially as tensions in the Middle East fuel radicalization.
As intelligence agencies scramble to assess credibility and harden defenses, Al-Qaeda’s message serves as a stark reminder: even as the world shifts focus, the terror group remains both dangerous and determined.
