President Donald Trump warned that suspected Iranian sleeper cells may have entered the United States through what he called Joe Biden’s “stupid open border” policies.
Trump raised the alarm during a White House exchange with reporters after being asked about intelligence warnings tied to Iran following the launch of Operation Epic Fury.
Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy questioned the president about a federal alert circulated to law enforcement agencies across the country.
The alert referenced an encrypted message believed to have originated in Iran shortly after the military operation began and suggested it could be intended to activate sleeper cells abroad.
.@pdoocy: "Have you been briefed about how many Iran sleeper cells there could be inside the US right now?"
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "I have been and a lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border. But we know where most of them are. We've got our eye on all of them,… pic.twitter.com/VrAqcXgfkr
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 12, 2026
“I have been and a lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border,” Trump replied when asked whether he had been briefed on sleeper cells.
“But we know where most of them are. We’ve got our eye on all of them, I think.”
Doocy pressed the president for clarity about the possible number of operatives. “Is it dozens?” the reporter asked.
“They came in through the open border policies of ‘sleepy ‘Joe Biden. One of the worst…the worst president in the history of our country and we’ve got our eyes on all of them,” Trump added.
“But the war itself is being prosecuted at a level that nobody’s seen before. It’s pretty — it’s pretty amazing to watch.”
Security concerns intensified after an intelligence bulletin warned Iran could retaliate against the United States with terror plots on American soil.
The Daily Mail reported it obtained a copy of the document, described as a joint intelligence assessment prepared by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center.
Officials involved in the report warned that Iran tends to favor targeted assassinations instead of large mass casualty attacks.
Possible targets include U.S. government officials, political dissidents and Jewish community leaders.
The report also suggested victims could be lured overseas to locations closer to Iran where attacks might be easier to carry out.
Investigators believe Iran may rely on radicalized individuals already inside the United States, including people with legal status who may not appear directly tied to the Iranian government.
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Officials warned propaganda could help mobilize attackers, including the spread of graphic imagery or reports of civilian casualties meant to inflame sympathizers.
“Most of the government of Iran’s attack plots in the United States involve the potential use of firearms,” the intelligence report stated.
“Other assassination methods may include stabbings, vehicle rammings, bombings, poisoning, strangling, suffocation, and arson.”
Analysts also warned Iran studies open-source information to identify targets.
Social media posts, livestreams, public appearances and mapping apps could help operatives track potential victims.
The report outlined how Iranian operatives may communicate while planning attacks.
Those methods include meeting in person, using burner phones, encrypted messaging apps and cloud accounts.
Officials also warned about possible cyberattacks tied to the conflict.
The intelligence bulletin referenced tactics such as spear phishing, email spoofing and voice cloning attempts designed to gather information on potential targets.
Law enforcement agencies were also advised to watch for warning signs.
Investigators were urged to monitor suspicious purchases of tactical equipment and online images showing individuals posing with weapons linked to extremist movements.
“The FBI, NCTC, and DHS remain concerned that radicalized individuals from a wide variety of ideological backgrounds and grievances, including those with anti-U.S., anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic beliefs may react to high-profile U.S. military activity, such as the conflict with Iran, and seek to commit violence,” the report warned.
The Daily Mail reported that distribution of the bulletin initially faced delays. According to the outlet, the warning was supposed to reach state and local agencies last week.
The report claimed it was temporarily held back while officials reviewed the document.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson rejected claims the administration blocked the alert. “Nothing was blocked,” Jackson told the outlet.
“The White House is coordinating closely with all government agencies to ensure information being disseminated is accurate, up to date, and has been properly vetted — even if that means taking additional time to review to ensure nothing is done in a vacuum.”
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz warned that tensions with Iran have created a heightened threat environment inside the United States.
“The risk of terrorism right now is quite high,” Cruz told NewsNation. He pointed to recent violent incidents while discussing the threat.
“We tragically saw in Austin, Texas, just last weekend, we saw a terrorist attack. We also saw another terrorist attack in New York City,” Cruz noted.
“The danger has never been higher than right now, particularly after four years of open borders under Joe Biden,” Cruz added.
“We know that radical Islamic terrorists entered this country, and there’s a vulnerability all across this country.”
Cruz also criticized Democrats over homeland security funding. “It is disgraceful and indefensible for the Democrats to vote party line not to fund the Department of Homeland Security right now,” he argued.
Cybersecurity threats linked to Iran have already surfaced during the conflict. An Iranian-linked hacking group carried out a cyberattack against medical equipment company Stryker.
The Wall Street Journal reported the intrusion disrupted systems across the company’s global offices and prevented employees from accessing internal networks.
A Stryker spokesperson said the company is working to restore operations. “Our teams are actively working to restore systems and operations as quickly as possible. Stryker has business continuity measures in place, and we’re committed to continuing to serve our customers,” the spokesperson explained.
Authorities have also warned about possible Iranian drone threats targeting the United States.
An FBI alert warned that Iran may attempt a surprise drone attack launched from an unidentified vessel off the American coastline.
“We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland,” the alert stated.
Officials said the potential targets were unspecified locations in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledged the warning during a press briefing.
“It’s all-around intelligence collecting, and it’s all about a posture of preparedness for the worst-case scenario,” Newsom told reporters.
“We have been gaming those out for some time as it relates to, again, what the FBI has been warning of.”
Newsom added that state officials are working with federal and local agencies to prepare for possible threats.
The governor also voiced frustration that he had not spoken with the president about the situation.
“I haven’t talked to the president directly about this and I wish the president would talk to the American people about what this is all about, what’s the end game?” Newsom said.
Trump dismissed fears about Iranian attacks on U.S. soil when asked about the possibility. “No, I’m not,” Trump responded.
The president also declared victory during a rally in Kentucky. “It’s only good if you win,” Trump told supporters. “And we’ve won.”
“You know, you never like to say too early ‘you won.’ We won… In the first hour it was over,” Trump added.
