The FBI has confirmed ongoing investigations into multiple bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting members of Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
Several nominees and appointees reported receiving violent threats, including one involving a pipe bomb with a pro-Palestinian message.
“The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners,” the agency said in a statement. Swatting refers to hoax calls that summon police to someone’s home under false pretenses, a practice that has increasingly targeted public figures in the United States.
Elise Stefanik, a congresswoman nominated by Trump to be the next UN ambassador, revealed that her residence in New York was targeted with a bomb threat. Stefanik, her husband, and their young son were driving home for Thanksgiving when they were alerted to the situation.
Lee Zeldin, Trump’s choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, disclosed that his home was threatened with a pipe bomb accompanied by a “pro-Palestinian themed message.” He confirmed that his family was not at home during the incident.
Scott Turner, a retired NFL player and Trump’s nominee for Housing Secretary, and Trump’s pick for Labor Secretary also reported receiving threats. Unnamed sources cited by Fox News Digital added that John Ratcliffe, nominated to head the CIA, and Pete Hegseth, chosen for the defense secretary role, were similarly targeted.
Karoline Leavitt, spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team, said several appointees had been subjected to “violent, un-American threats to their lives and those who live with them.”
Outgoing President Joe Biden has been briefed on the threats, with a White House spokesperson stating, “The president and the administration unequivocally condemn threats of political violence.” Biden has promised a smooth transition of power, contrasting with Trump’s controversial departure in 2021, which saw the Capitol attacked by his supporters over false election fraud claims.
The threats come as Trump prepares to return to the White House in January, with a cabinet largely composed of loyalists. The former president has faced multiple assassination attempts, including a July shooting incident during a campaign rally. More recently, authorities arrested a man in September accused of planning an attack on Trump while he played golf in Florida.
Despite the threats, Leavitt emphasized the team’s resolve, stating, “With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us.”
