Several appointees and nominees picked to be a part of President-elect Trump’s upcoming administration were targeted with threats this week, just days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Trump’s incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Wednesday that “several” of the president-elect’s Cabinet choices were targeted with “swatting” calls and bomb threats. Swatting calls are false emergency calls directed at the person’s home.
“In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action,” Leavitt said in a statement.
Shortly after, the FBI confirmed that the bureau was aware of “numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees” and that the agency is “working with our law enforcement partners.”
The federal law enforcement agency said it takes “all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”
Here is the list of Trump’s picks that were targeted with threats this week:
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)
Stefanik, who Trump selected to be his United Nations ambassador, said through a spokesperson that her home was targeted with a bomb threat and was informed of it Wednesday morning.
“This morning, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, her husband, and their three year old son were driving home to Saratoga County from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence,” a spokesperson for Stefanik said Wednesday in a statement. “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism.”
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)
Gaetz’s alleged mailbox in the Niceville, Fla., area was targeted with a bomb threat Wednesday morning, according to the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office said Gaetz’s family member lives at the address, but the lawmaker does not reside there. The authorities said the mailbox was cleared, and no devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to be the next attorney general, but he withdrew his nomination last week.
Lee Zeldin
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who was picked to be Trump’s head of the Environmental Protection Agency, shared on Wednesday that his family’s home was targeted with a pipe bomb threat sent with a “pro-Palestinian themed message.” Zeldin is Jewish.
“My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops,” Zeldin said Wednesday on the social platform X. “We are thankful for the swift actions taken by local officers to keep our family, neighbors, and local community secure.”
Brooke Rollins
Rollins, the president-elect’s pick to be the secretary of Agriculture, said she and her family learned about a bomb threat Wednesday morning. Fort Worth police in Texas responded, and nobody was injured, according to Rollins.
“I want to express my deep gratitude to the law-enforcement professionals who did their utmost, in both speed and expertise, to protect us — as they protect our community every single day,” she said in a statement on X.
Howard Lutnick
Lutnick, whom Trump is expected to nominate as his Commerce secretary, had a bomb threat against his home in the Upper East Side on Wednesday, News 12 reported, citing the New York City Police Department.
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.)
Chavez-DeRemer, whom Trump picked to be Labor secretary during his second go-around in the Oval Office, said that her family’s home was targeted with a pipe bomb threat Tuesday night.
The first-term lawmaker, who lost her reelection bid earlier this month, said that the Clackamas County sheriff’s office responded quickly, and everyone was “safe.”
“This kind of violence harms not just the intended targets, but entire communities. It is an unacceptable way to express opposition, and it will not deter President Trump and the team he has assembled from doing the work on behalf of the American people,” she said in a Wednesday statement.
Former NFL star Scott Turner
Trump’s pick for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner, said that his home was also targeted with bomb threats along with residences of “several of my colleagues.”
“I’m grateful for the swift and professional response from local law enforcement in ensuring everyone’s safety. Nothing will shake my resolve to serve in @realDonaldTrump’s administration and bring much-needed change to @HUDgov,” he wrote in a Wednesday post on X.
Following the reports of the threats, a White House spokesperson said that President Biden was briefed on the incidents and that his administration was in contact with Trump’s team and federal law enforcement to keep an eye on the developments.
“Federal law enforcement’s response, alongside state and local authorities, remains ongoing. The President and the Administration unequivocally condemn threats of political violence,” the White House spokesperson told The Hill.
