U.S President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees have received alarming bomb threats and swatting incidents. Image: Daily Telegraph.
(The Post News)- A series of alarming bomb threats and swatting incidents aimed at President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet and administration nominees this week has raised significant security concerns, a spokesperson for the transition team confirmed.
These threats erupted late Tuesday and persisted into Wednesday morning, prompting urgent action from law enforcement to ensure the safety of those under attack, according to transition team spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. “Law enforcement acted swiftly to address these threats and protect the individuals involved,” Leavitt stated emphatically.
Among those targeted were Elise Stefanik, a Republican U.S. representative and Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; Lee Zeldin, a former Republican congressman and Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency; and Pete Hegseth, nominated as U.S. defense secretary. Each of these individuals publicly acknowledged receiving credible threats, some involving pipe bombs.
Hegseth revealed in a statement on X that his family was threatened with a pipe bomb. Hegseth stated that a police officer arrived in their home this morning, while their seven children were sleeping, to notify them of a “credible pipe bomb” that was targeting their family. He further expressed gratitude for his family’s safety and confirmed that the threat had been cleared.
Stefanik disclosed that she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were traveling when they were alerted to a threat against their New York home. Similarly, Zeldin reported that his family faced a pro-Palestinian-themed pipe bomb threat. According to Zeldin’s post on X, she and her family are safe, as they were not home when they were alerted about the threat. She added that they are fully working with law authorities on the investigation.
These incidents have raised serious concerns about the alarming rise in swatting—where false reports are maliciously filed to provoke an aggressive police reaction. Law enforcement experts have warned that this form of harassment is shaping up to be an increasingly common tactic to intimidate high-profile individuals. The FBI has acknowledged the surge in threats and swatting incidents, affirming its commitment to work alongside local law enforcement agencies to tackle this issue. An FBI spokesperson asserted that they take all potential threats seriously and urged the public to report anything unusual.
In Florida, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigated a bomb threat directed at the home of a family member of former Congressman Matt Gaetz, originally Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney general. Gaetz withdrew his nomination on November 21 amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct, which he firmly denies. The sheriff’s office confirmed that no devices were found during their investigation.
A White House spokesperson asserted that President Joe Biden has been briefed on these incidents. The spokesperson reaffirmed that threats of political violence are categorically condemned by the president and this administration.These threats follow a disturbing trend of violent incidents involving Trump, including an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July and another attempt in September when a man armed with a rifle positioned himself outside one of Trump’s Florida golf courses.
The targeted threats against Trump’s nominees underscore the heightened risks associated with political roles in today’s volatile environment, amplifying the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect public officials and their families.
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