"D-Day on Tel Aviv": The Violent Manifesto of the Man Who Tried to Kill Biden

Federal authorities have uncovered a chilling plot to assassinate then-President Joe Biden during the 2024 CNN presidential debate in Atlanta. Adam Benjamin Hall, a 23-year-old from Alabama, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with interstate stalking after investigators linked his physical movements, a firearm, and a radical manifesto to a planned attack on the debate stage. Prosecutors revealed that Hall’s phone data placed him just three blocks away from the venue less than 30 minutes before the event began, suggesting a near-breach of presidential security. The investigation, led by the U.S. Secret Service, highlights a dangerous convergence of political violence, deep-state conspiracy theories, and radical anti-Israel rhetoric that went far beyond online threats and transitioned into a real-world attempt on the President's life.

The "D-Day on Tel Aviv" Manifesto

Central to the government’s case is a document found on Hall's phone that he titled "Expose" or his "manifesto." Addressed to "all the Palestinian journalists" and dedicated to those who "lost their lives along the way," the note outlined a violent worldview that blamed both the United States and Israel for global suffering. "Our enemies are not in any other country but our own and Israel's," Hall allegedly wrote. He explicitly called for the destruction of the Israeli government, stating, "It's time we overthrow these bastards and threaten to pull a f--king 'D-Day' on Tel Aviv."

The document also urged a violent uprising within the United States scheduled for the week of July 4. Hall encouraged his followers to skip holiday celebrations and instead "do the patriotic thing by marching on Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Supreme Court armed with whatever you have." He provided specific instructions for engaging with federal authorities, stating, "Unless the feds shoot first, you must not engage. If they are unwilling to comply after a few hours, then I permit you to march into those buildings and do what is necessary to regain control of our country from the 'deep state.'" The manifesto concluded with a "Free Palestine" slogan alongside the flag of the Palestinian Authority, framing his planned assassination of the President as a necessary act for his cause.

A Near-Miss in Atlanta

The physical evidence presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia paints a picture of a suspect who was in the final stages of execution. On June 27, 2024, Hall reportedly drove from Alabama to Atlanta with a firearm. GPS data and screenshots of maps found on his device showed a location marker just three blocks from the CNN studios at approximately 8:32 PM, just 28 minutes before the debate’s scheduled start. Prosecutors argue that Hall’s intent was to sneak into the high-security event to murder the President.

"Threats against the President are gravely serious and must be treated as such," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. He emphasized that Hall’s actions "went beyond mere words" and involved the physical act of traveling across state lines with a weapon. Secret Service official Robert Donovan echoed these sentiments, noting that protecting the nation's leadership remains the agency's highest priority and that this arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated federal efforts. While Hall is currently facing charges of interstate stalking and traveling with intent to kill, officials have noted that the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are likely to follow. The case serves as a stark reminder that the rhetoric of war and political upheaval can rapidly transform into lethal action when fueled by radicalization.