Several of President Donald Trump’s cabinet appointees have been targeted with bomb threats and swatting incidents in what appears to be a coordinated effort to harass and endanger them. The FBI is investigating these credible threats, which underscore a disturbing escalation in political violence aimed at undermining Trump’s administration before it even begins.
Among those targeted are Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), nominated to lead the Department of Labor. Both faced threats to their homes, with Chavez-DeRemer revealing her family was targeted with a pipe bomb threat. “Thanks to the quick response of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, we are safe,” she posted, adding that she would not be intimidated.
Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth and Scott Turner, Trump’s choice to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, were also victims. Turner described the threats as part of an organized effort to derail Trump’s cabinet, saying, “Nothing will shake my resolve to serve in @realDonaldTrump’s administration.”
Swatting attacks — false reports made to provoke a heavily armed police response — are not just intimidation tactics. They pose a deadly risk, as police responding to fabricated emergencies are primed for confrontation. These attacks, which have historically resulted in tragic outcomes, represent a direct threat to the lives of Trump’s appointees and their families.
The timing and scale of these incidents suggest a coordinated effort to sow fear among Trump’s cabinet and supporters. Critics point to the left’s increasingly hostile rhetoric as contributing to an environment where violence against political opponents is not only normalized but celebrated.
These threats aren’t just aimed at Trump’s administration — they are attacks on the democratic process itself. By attempting to silence and intimidate those chosen to serve, the perpetrators undermine the peaceful transfer of power and reveal the hypocrisy of those who claim to champion “democracy.”
As investigations continue, Americans must reject these tactics and hold accountable those who stoke division and encourage violence. Political disagreements must never justify terrorizing public servants or their families.
