Several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees and appointees have been subjected to bomb threats and swatting incidents, according to the Trump-Vance transition team. Swatting is a form of harassment involving making misleading emergency calls to the police, which frequently leads to the deployment of SWAT teams to the victim’s address. The intention is to instill fear and distress in the target by fabricating a sense of immediate peril.
The FBI is investigating these threats, which occurred on November 26 and 27, 2024 and have raised concerns about the safety of incoming administration officials.
Transition team spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, un-American threats to their lives and those who live with them.” She added that the attacks included bomb threats and swatting incidents, where false emergency calls are made to provoke a heavy police response. Leavitt emphasized that law enforcement acted swiftly to ensure the safety of those targeted.
Among those targeted was Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), nominated to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik’s office reported that while she, her husband, and their three-year-old son were traveling home for Thanksgiving, they were informed of a bomb threat at their residence in Saratoga, New York. New York State Police conducted a sweep of Stefanik’s home but found no explosive devices.
Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, also received a threat. Zeldin shared on social media, “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family was reported to law enforcement.” He noted that his family was not home at the time and is safe.
In Florida, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a bomb threat referencing former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a residence in Niceville. While a family member resides at the address, Gaetz is not a resident. No threatening devices were found.
The FBI acknowledged awareness of the numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents and is collaborating with law enforcement partners. The agency encourages the public to report any suspicious activities.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation and, through White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma, condemned the threats of political violence. The White House is in communication with federal law enforcement and the Trump transition team as the situation develops.
These incidents follow a political campaign marked by unprecedented violence, including a July shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the then-candidate was grazed by a bullet, resulting in the death of a supporter. Additionally, the Secret Service thwarted an assassination attempt at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course.
Public figures across the political spectrum have increasingly become targets of hoax bomb threats and false emergency calls. About a year ago, the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents targeting officials and courthouses nationwide. Many were locked down and evacuated after receiving bomb threats, though no explosives were found, and no one was hurt.
The U.S. Capitol Police stated that when a member of Congress is the subject of such an incident, they work closely with local and federal law enforcement partners. The force declined to provide further details to minimize the risk of copycat incidents.
House Speaker Mike Johnson described the threats as “dangerous and unhinged,” noting that this year there were two assassination attempts on President Trump and now some of his Cabinet nominees and appointees are being targeted. He added, “It is not who we are as a nation.”
Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate these threats to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.
