Trump could have eliminated the leader of al-Qaeda... but did not recognize his name

Former President Donald Trump had the opportunity to eliminate Ayman al-Zawahiri but did not because he did not recognize the name of the leader of Al-Qaeda today deceased today.

What happened: The plans to target al-Zawahiri could have happened much earlier, but Trump chose not to prosecute him because he didn't recognize his name and instead suggested targeting Osama bin Laden's son, Hamza bin Laden, Business Insider reported.

The former president, now chairman of the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), reportedly told Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials: "I have never heard of any of these people. What about Hamza bin Laden?"

Former CIA official Douglas London said in a 2020 security report that Trump's "obsession" with Hamza bin Laden was "an example of the president's preference for targeted killing of 'celebrity' versus prioritizing options that may prove better for the security of the United States," according to the report.

See also: How to buy TMTG IPO shares

Why it matters: Al-Zawahiri was killed in a CIA-operated drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday.

The late terrorist leader succeeded bin Laden as head of al-Qaeda in 2011 after his death. Both plotted the September 11 attacks and Al-Zawahiri was one of the United States' "most wanted terrorists".

London said that despite intelligence assessments showing Al-Zawahiri posed "greater dangers" and the likelihood that Hamza was in the immediate line of succession, Trump thought differently, according to Business Insider.

Hamza bin Laden died in an airstrike that reportedly took place in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. Trump announced his death in 2019, CNN reported.

Price Action: TMTG is set to go public through a merger with SPAC Digital World Acquisition Corp DWAC. On Tuesday, DWAC shares closed down 0.9% at $29.90 in regular session and fell 0.5% in extended trading, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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