‘Intimidation, violence will not deter us,’ Trump rep says, after threats against cabinet nominees

27 November 2024, The Jerusalem Press – “Joe Biden and all Democrat leaders have an obligation to speak up and condemn this now,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

“With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us,” Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, stated on Wednesday, after threats against nominees for the future administration.

“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, un-American threats to their lives and those who live with them,” she said.

“These attacks ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting.’ In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted,” Leavitt added. “President Trump and the entire transition team are grateful for their swift action.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) noted the other two assassination attempts against Trump in the past few months.

“Now some of his cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats. This is dangerous and unhinged. It is not who we are in America,” he wrote. “Joe Biden and all Democrat leaders have an obligation to speak up and condemn this now.”

Biden had not commented on the threats at press time. Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president and the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, also hadn’t commented at press time. 

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), chair of the House Republican Conference and the president-elect’s nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, learned of a bomb threat at her residence as she, “her husband and their 3-year-old son were driving home to Saratoga County from Washington for Thanksgiving,” her office stated.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7,” the congresswoman’s office added. “We want to share our best wishes to the upstate New York community for a happy and safe Thanksgiving. We are especially grateful to our law enforcement officers and military families who are on duty over the holiday season.”

Lee Zeldin, a former Republican congressman and Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, wrote that “a pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message.”

“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,” said Zeldin, who is Jewish. “We are thankful for the swift actions taken by local officers to keep our family, neighbors and local community secure.”

Brooke Rollins, Trump’s pick for agriculture secretary, wrote on Wednesday that “this morning, we learned that a threat was issued against our home and family.”

“Thanks to the swift efforts by the Fort Worth Police, we were unharmed and quickly returned home,” she wrote. “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.”

The FBI stated that it “is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law-enforcement partners.”

“We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement,” it added.

“This is despicable and should be universally condemned on both sides of the aisle,” wrote Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.).

Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) posted on X that he was “praying for President Trump and his cabinet appointees. God bless the law enforcement working to protect them!”