Why several Trump officials are now living at military bases

Why several Trump officials are now living at military bases

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent becomes the latest Trump official to move onto a military base following security concerns. Here's what to know.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is the latest senior Trump administration official to move onto a military base amid security threats, according to US media reports.

Sources have told Reuters the relocation followed Iranian threats against his life.

Here's what to know about the threats and who is living on military bases.

It comes at a time when Iranian plots against US personnel and American citizens are at an "advanced stage", according to a senior intelligence official for the Trump administration, in an internal memo seen by Reuters last month.

The severity of the alleged threats against Mr Bessent was not immediately clear when The New York Times first broke the news of his move.

However, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters that security concerns surrounding Mr Bessent began to rise after the Wall Street Journal reported last year that he had bought a mansion for $US12.5 million ($18.2 million).

The article included an aerial photo of the property, which the source said allowed it to be geolocated.

The source declined to address the timing of the government's decision to move Bessent.

Mr Bessent has led a US economic pressure campaign, known as Operation Economic Outcast, against Iran since August, which aims to pressure Tehran to end attacks on shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In brief

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is the latest senior Trump administration official to move onto a military base amid security threats, according to US media reports. Sources have told Reuters the relocation followed Iranian threats against his life. Here's what to know about the threats and who is living on military bases. The severity of the alleged threats against Mr Bessent was not immediately clear when The New York Times first broke the news of his move.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to ABC News Australia. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

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