Bomb Threats Target Trump Nominees, FBI Reports

Several individuals nominated for positions in Donald Trump’s incoming administration have received bomb threats, including one involving a pipe-bomb scare with a pro-Palestinian message, the FBI reported on Wednesday.

In a statement, the FBI confirmed it was investigating “numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents” directed at Trump’s nominees and appointees, working closely with law enforcement agencies to address the threats. “Swatting” refers to hoax calls that falsely report emergencies, such as bomb threats, prompting urgent police responses. This tactic has been increasingly used in recent years to target political figures.

Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, condemned the threats as “violent, unAmerican,” and stressed that they targeted both the nominees and their families.

Among those targeted was Rep. Elise Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally selected as the nominee for UN ambassador. She revealed that her New York home had received a bomb threat while she, her husband, and their young son were away, driving home from Washington for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Lee Zeldin, a former congressman tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also reported a bomb threat, which included a pipe bomb and a message with pro-Palestinian themes. Zeldin confirmed that his family was not at home at the time of the threat.

Unidentified sources told Fox News Digital that additional Trump nominees, including John Ratcliffe, the pick for CIA director, and Pete Hegseth, the choice for defense secretary, were also targeted with similar threats.

Trump, who is preparing for a return to the House in January, has quickly built a cabinet of loyalists, some of whom have faced criticism for their lack of experience. The threats come as Trump appears likely to avoid trial in connection with his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

This follows a violent incident in July when Trump was injured by a gunshot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally. The shooter was killed by return fire. Additionally, in September, authorities arrested a man accused of plotting to shoot Trump while he was playing golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida.