Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted a chilling message on Wednesday, revealing that members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team have been targeted with “violent, unAmerican threats to their lives” and leaving open the possibility that direct actions could follow. Leavitt, who was announced this month as the youngest White House press secretary in history, made headlines with her statement, acknowledging that death threats are being considered as part of the team’s preparations for returning to power.
“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Leavitt said in the statement. “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. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.” She concluded: “President Trump and the Transition are focused on doing the work of uniting our nation by ensuring a safe and prosperous future. With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us.”
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) November 27, 2024
Swatting, the practice of tricking SWAT teams into raiding the homes or businesses of innocent individuals, has become a dangerous threat in the 21st century and has led to fatalities among those targeted by pranksters. In January, the White House itself was targeted in an attack that prompted police and firefighters to respond to false reports of a fire in the West Wing, according to CNN. Other recent victims of swatting include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Maine’s Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and two judges involved in Trump’s legal cases. In 2017, the dangerous prank resulted in the death of Andrew Finch, a video game enthusiast who was accidentally shot by officers during a mistaken raid on his home.
In October, top U.S. House investigators announced that the attempted assassination of Trump on July 13th was entirely “preventable,” according to a preliminary report based on expert and witness testimony highlighting multiple security failures that day. The report pointed to a lack of communication and planning between state and federal agencies, revealing significant gaps in the protection surrounding Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman was able to fire a rifle round at him from a nearby rooftop. Fox News cited the initial findings from a House Task Force that outlined alarming shortcomings within the Secret Service.
“Although the findings in this report are preliminary, the information obtained during the first phase of the Task Force’s investigation clearly shows a lack of planning and coordination between the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners before the rally,” the report said. “Put simply, the evidence obtained by the Task Force to date shows the tragic and shocking events of July 13 were preventable and should not have happened.”
Task Force Chair Mike Kelly (R-PA) has discreetly issued three subpoenas to local Pennsylvania agencies for “sensitive documents,” according to Politico. These documents are expected to be reviewed and incorporated into a final report scheduled for release this December. Local authorities have previously disputed claims made by former Secret Service leadership regarding the quality of training and preparation, including which side was responsible for securing the rally’s perimeter where the gunman gained his vantage point. The investigation also uncovered that the Secret Service borrowed members of Trump’s detail from other federal agencies, with some receiving only a brief webinar training before being deployed in the field.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.