Trump Comments on FBI’s Role in Nancy Guthrie Investigation
President Donald Trump addressed the media on Friday regarding the FBI’s involvement in the case of Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing from her Tucson, Arizona home for nearly two weeks.
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on February 1. As 13 days have passed, authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or individuals of interest in her disappearance.
During a press briefing at the White House, Trump shared insights on why the Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to lead the investigation. “They didn’t want to give it up, and that’s fine. It’s really up to the community,” he commented, adding that he believes progress has been made since the FBI became involved.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated that FBI Director Kash Patel assured her the bureau was active in Arizona, offering local authorities a complete range of federal resources.
Trump’s remarks followed reports indicating that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos was obstructing the FBI from accessing critical evidence. Nanos defended their partnership with the FBI, explaining that his department did not discover gloves at Guthrie’s home, and noted that a private lab in Florida, which they have used for years, is handling the evidence instead of the FBI’s lab in Quantico, Virginia.
Nanos expressed that his office sought FBI assistance immediately after Guthrie’s disappearance, describing it as “absolutely insane” not to leverage their partnership.
On Thursday, the FBI’s operational technology division announced that forensic analysis of doorbell camera footage had offered new insights into potential identifying details of Guthrie’s possible abductor, described as a male of average build, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall.
Authorities also shared they have determined the suspect was carrying a specific backpack type, a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, as seen in the released video.
When asked by a reporter if a cartel or another “nation-state” could be linked to her disappearance, Trump stated, “I can’t say that yet. It’s a little early.” He added, “But it’s someone. They either knew what they were doing very well or were at an amateur level. Either way, it’s not a good situation.”
