A number of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees and appointees have become targets of bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” his transition team confirmed on Wednesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently investigating the incidents.
According to Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, the attacks, which range from bomb threats to swatting—where false emergency reports are made to prompt law enforcement intervention—were directed at several of Trump’s appointees. “These violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and families are being taken very seriously,” Leavitt said in a statement.
Among those targeted were New York Representative Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick for U.N. Ambassador; Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, initially chosen as attorney general; Oregon Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer, nominated for Labor Secretary; and former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Law enforcement officials are also investigating whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi were among those targeted.
The FBI confirmed it was aware of the incidents and is working with local law enforcement agencies to investigate. White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation and condemned the threats, emphasizing that “political violence is unacceptable.”
The threats came as Stefanik’s office reported a bomb threat against her residence in Saratoga County, New York. On Wednesday morning, police conducted a sweep of the property, though no explosives were found. Stefanik later shared on social media that the threat contained a pro-Palestinian message.
In Florida, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a bomb threat targeting Matt Gaetz’s property. Authorities clarified that Gaetz does not reside at the address, and no devices were discovered.
These incidents follow a growing trend of violent threats against public figures, particularly in the politically charged climate surrounding Trump’s presidency. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, injuring one of his supporters, and authorities foiled another assassination attempt at Trump’s Florida golf course. Additionally, this week, a man was arrested for threatening to kill Trump in social media videos while holding a rifle.
Swatting and bomb threats targeting political figures have become increasingly common, with incidents reported at state capitals, courthouses, and the homes of public officials across the U.S. In 2022, several historically Black colleges and universities were targeted with bomb threats during Black History Month.
In response to the growing number of threats, U.S. Capitol Police stated they are working with federal and local law enforcement agencies to address swatting incidents, though they declined to offer additional details to avoid encouraging copycat crimes.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the attacks, calling them “dangerous and unhinged,” adding that such threats are not representative of America’s values.
