Trump claims in fundraising email he 'nearly escaped death' in FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago

In an extreme distortion of standard FBI protocol, former President Donald Trump riled up his conservative allies by falsely claiming in a campaign fundraising alert that President Joe Biden's justice department was “locked & loaded ready to take me out" during a 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago residence for classified documents.

Trump appeared to be referencing court documents unsealed Tuesday in his federal classified documents case. An "Operations Order" for the 2022 search produced in discovery included a routine policy statement on the use of deadly force. It stated "Law Enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary."

"The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force," the FBI said in a statement to USA TODAY. "No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter."

Trump, however, painted the released order as evidence that Biden's Department of Justice was authorized to shoot him in his fundraising email, alleging he "nearly escaped death."

"You know they're just itching to do the unthinkable," Trump said in an alert asking his supporters for donations. "But here’s the one thing they don’t know: WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER!"

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Allies and officials respond online

Trump and his allies have zeroed in on the "deadly force" language, despite the fact that Trump was not present on the property the day the FBI search took place.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. reposted Trump's comments on Truth Social to X, formerly Twitter, and falsely claimed that the "Biden DOJ and FBI were planning to assassinate Pres Trump and gave the green light."

Former FBI assistant director also chimed in on X, writing "Every FBI operations order contains a reminder of FBI deadly force policy."

More: Donald Trump faces 4 criminal trials: A calendar of what to expect

What is Trump's classified documents case?

Trump is facing dozens of federal charges related to his retention of hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving the White House in 2021.

The former president and his team contend that he declassified the records, they were his personal property, and the criminal trial is part of a larger "witch hunt" meant to interfere with the November election.

The classified documents case was originally scheduled to begin May 20, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon postponed the trial indefinitely on May 7.

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says he 'nearly escaped death' in Mar-a-Lago raid; FBI responds