Several of US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming cabinet members and administration appointees have been subjected to violent threats, including bomb alerts and “swatting” incidents, according to his transition team.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the president-elect, confirmed that multiple threats were made against Trump’s cabinet nominees on the night of Tuesday, November 27, and the morning of November 28.
The threats included bomb alerts and swatting, a practice where law enforcement is falsely summoned to someone’s residence under misleading pretenses, causing an armed police response.
While the names of the individuals targeted have not been disclosed, Elise Stefanik, a Republican congresswoman from New York, revealed that her home had been targeted by a bomb threat.
Stefanik, who has been nominated as the US Ambassador to the United Nations, stated that she, her husband, and their young child were en route to their New York home from Washington, DC, when they were informed of the threat.
She commended the swift response from law enforcement, stating that New York State, County, and US Capitol Police acted with the highest levels of professionalism to ensure their safety.
“The threats ranged from bomb scares to swatting incidents,” Leavitt said in her statement. She did not elaborate on the specific nature of the threats or identify any other individuals who were targeted.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) acknowledged awareness of the situation, stating that it is actively investigating the numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents.
A spokesperson emphasized the bureau’s commitment to taking all potential threats seriously and encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.
"We take all potential threats seriously," the FBI spokesperson stated. "As always, we encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement."
The Justice Department has not yet commented on the matter.
Trump, who is preparing to return to the White House in January, has already assembled a cabinet composed largely of loyalists, some of whom have faced criticism for their lack of experience in public office. These threats come amid heightened tensions, following an attempted assassination on Trump in July, where he was injured in an attack in Pennsylvania.
Further incidents of violence have also been reported, including a man charged with attempted assassination after allegedly positioning himself with a rifle outside one of Trump’s Florida golf courses in September.
Despite the ongoing threats, Leavitt affirmed that Trump and his team remain resolute. “With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us,” she said, underscoring the administration’s commitment to moving forward without being swayed by such attempts at intimidation.
