International

Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Targeted By Bomb Threats, Hoax Calls

Published

4 hours ago

Nov 28, 2024.

Dennis

Several individuals appointed by Donald Trump to key positions in his administration, including cabinet nominees and members of his White House team, have been the subject of bomb threats.

The FBI confirmed it is investigating “numerous bomb threats” as well as “swatting incidents”—hoax calls designed to provoke a police response at the homes of the targets. At least nine individuals chosen by Trump to lead various departments, including Defence, Housing, Agriculture, and Labour, as well as his nominee for US Ambassador to the United Nations, were among those targeted.

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The incidents, which took place on Tuesday night and Wednesday, are under investigation by law enforcement agencies. Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, condemned the threats, describing them as violent and un-American. She assured that law enforcement had acted swiftly to secure the safety of the nominees, adding, “With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us.”

Neither Leavitt nor the FBI disclosed the names of the individuals targeted. However, New York Republican Elise Stefanik, nominated to serve as US Ambassador to the UN, was the first to publicly confirm that her family had received a bomb threat. Her office reported that she was informed of the threat while traveling with her husband and their three-year-old son from Washington, D.C., to New York for Thanksgiving.

Pete Hegseth, nominated as Secretary of Defence, later confirmed he too was targeted. On social media, he shared that a police officer arrived at his home Wednesday morning while his seven children were asleep to notify him of a “credible pipe bomb threat.” Hegseth stated, “I will not be bullied or intimidated. Never,” emphasizing his commitment to serve as called upon by Trump.

While Trump himself was not among those directly targeted, law enforcement sources noted that he has recently faced genuine threats. Arizona officials arrested a man earlier this week for repeatedly posting videos threatening to kill Trump and his family.

None of the individuals targeted this week were under the protection of the US Secret Service, according to reports. Lee Zeldin, nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency, also reported receiving a “pipe bomb threat” that included a “pro-Palestinian themed message.” Zeldin’s family was not at home, and he expressed gratitude for the prompt response of local officers.

Brooke Rollins, nominated to lead the Department of Agriculture, thanked Fort Worth, Texas, police for their “swift efforts” after a threat was made against her family. “We were unharmed and quickly returned home,” she wrote.

Other nominees, including Scott Turner (Department of Housing) and Lori Chavez-Deremer (Labor Secretary), also confirmed that they had been targeted and pledged not to be intimidated.

The White House stated that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incidents and that federal law enforcement, along with Trump’s team, was monitoring the situation closely. The US Capitol Police, responsible for safeguarding Congress, confirmed they are collaborating with federal agencies to address the swatting incidents but declined further comment to prevent copycat actions.

Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, who recently withdrew from the race for US Attorney General, was also a target of such a threat. Authorities in Okaloosa County, Florida, confirmed a bomb threat at an address in Niceville, though no devices were found after a thorough search.