Several nominees for Donald Trump’s cabinet and White House team have been targeted by bomb threats and swatting incidents, according to law enforcement and the Trump transition team. The FBI confirmed it is investigating “numerous bomb threats” alongside “swatting incidents,” where hoax calls prompt an armed police response to the victim’s home.
The wave of threats began on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations, was among the first to report being targeted. Her office disclosed that she was informed of a bomb threat against her family home while traveling with her husband and three-year-old son from Washington to New York for Thanksgiving.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team, described the threats as “violent, unAmerican acts” and assured the public that law enforcement had acted swiftly to ensure the safety of those targeted. “With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us,” she said. However, neither Leavitt nor the FBI disclosed the identities of all those targeted.
New York police later confirmed that Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, was among those whose homes were threatened. Separately, Lee Zeldin, nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency, reported that a “pipe bomb threat” accompanied by a “pro-Palestinian themed message” was sent to his home. Zeldin and his family were not present at the time of the threat.
Brooke Rollins, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Agriculture, also shared that her family was threatened on Wednesday morning in Fort Worth, Texas. In a post on X, she expressed gratitude to local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism.
Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, who recently withdrew from consideration as US attorney general, confirmed that his Niceville home was targeted by a bomb threat. Police found no devices after searching the area. Fox News reported that John Ratcliffe, Trump’s nominee for CIA director, and Pete Hegseth, the nominee for defense secretary, were also among those targeted.
While Trump himself was not among the recipients of these threats, the incidents underscore the growing risks faced by high-profile political figures in an increasingly polarized climate. Last year, swatting tactics were employed against politicians across the political spectrum, with incidents peaking around Christmas.
The spate of threats follows similar hoaxes targeting judges and prosecutors involved in Trump’s criminal cases, raising concerns about escalating hostility in the political arena. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests related to the recent incidents, but investigations are ongoing.
