MAGA influencers targeted by “swatting” calls

Multiple conservative and MAGA figures have said they have been victims of so-called “swatting” incidents at their homes.

Social media influencer Gunther Eagleman, radio show host Joe Pagliarulo, and Infowars’ Chase Geiser are among those who have said they were targeted in recent days.

FBI Director Kash Patel, who was nominated to the role by President Donald Trump, said the agency is investigating the alleged incidents and warned against the “dangerous trend” in a Friday morning post on X, formerly Twitter.

Newsweek has contacted the FBI for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Swatting involves hoax emergency service calls that send police, sometimes including armed response units, to a person’s home. Swatting has the potential to result in fatalities.

What to Know

Texas-based talk show host Pagliarulo said he was a victim of swatting in the early hours of March 12.

He played door camera footage on his show showing what he said was an armed law enforcement officer at his door responding to a fake report.

Pagliarulo said he was at first unaware that the armed man was law enforcement and even considered confronting him with his own guns, which he said could have resulted in a “shootout.”

Pagliarulo said he called 911, and an operator informed him they had received a report of a disturbance at his address, which he said was false.

Several other high-profile MAGA figures have also said on social media that they were victims of swatting.

Eagleman posted to his 1.3 million X followers that he was swatted after someone called in a “fake hostage situation.”

Geiser, who has been a host on Alex Jones‘ Infowars network, shared a video on X, saying he had been swatted for the “second time in 12 hours” on March 12. He posted footage of an armed response unit at his home.

Catturd, a popular pro-Trump social media account with more than 3.4 million X followers, wrote Friday morning that he was “swatted again for the fourth time” at his home.

Right-wing journalist Nick Sortor said his father and sister were swatted after authorities received a call falsely claiming his father was planning to kill his entire family.

Shawn Farash, a comedian who calls himself Captain Deplorable on social media, said police were called to his house after receiving reports that a person was “murdered” at his home and that someone was planning to carry out “suicide by cop.”

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah responded to Farash on X, asking whether swatting should be “prosecuted as attempted murder.”

What People Are Saying

Joe Pagliarulo, speaking on his radio show: “If I would have grabbed my AR-15 and walked out the front door, or my pistol and walked out the front door, I would have been dead in my doorway. Had I taken any other action, I might have been killed in my house that night. And you start to think maybe that’s the tactic.”

Gunther Eagleman posted on X on March 13: “The gloves are off. First off, my family is safe. My house was just swatted. Some ignorant f*** called in a fake hostage situation. Fortunately, I have good relations with law enforcement, and extra patrols will be added. I don’t tolerate threats and will find the culprit. This was their worst mistake.”

Chase Geiser wrote on X on March 12: “I was just swatted again moments ago, just before 2AM. 6 to 8 police officers used a PA system to call me by name and order me to walk out of my house. I was handcuffed in the middle of the street, presumably at gunpoint though I couldn’t tell because of the light being shined on my face. I was then led into the house where my wife was woken up and we were informed that they received a call from someone pretending to be me and threatening to kill my family.”

Nick Sortor posted: “Both my dad and my sister were swatted tonight. A dozen cops attempted to kick my dad’s door in at gunpoint. This is literal f***** terrorism. And the FBI should treat it as such. In my dad’s case, the caller told police my dad was killing my entire family, requiring them to intervene with deadly force. This is nothing short of attempted murder. They wanted the police to kill my father. Unfortunately for the swatter, I WILL NOT stop. I WILL NOT shut up. And you WILL NOT win. As President Trump says: FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT.”

Catturd wrote on March 14: “I was just swatted again for the fourth time. As I tweeted earlier, I live in the middle of nowhere and know all the cops here (because of the past swattings). They knew what it was immediately and just called me and sent one officer, who I just had a great conversation with. Really nice guy. My last two swatters are sitting in prison right now. This new one will be joining them soon.”

Shawn Farash in a March 13 social media video: “I’d like to see the Justice Department, or somebody, somewhere, get involved with getting to the bottom of it because you can see it’s not a joke. You’re coming up to people’s homes with very, very big guns that are very unsettling to a lot of people, and one wrong move could create a disaster.”

FBI Director Kash Patel in a Friday statement: “I want to address the alarming rise in ‘Swatting’ incidents targeting media figures. The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. This isn’t about politics—weaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers. That will not be tolerated. We are fully committed to working with local law enforcement to crack down on these crimes.”

Utah Senator Mike Lee posted on X: “Should swatting be prosecuted as attempted murder? If you send heavily armed men to someone’s house with a false assertion that a violent crime is being committed there, you’re creating a grave risk that an innocent person will get shot.”

Left-wing political commentator Brian Krassenstein wrote on March 13: “Multiple conservatives are claiming they were recently swatted. Whoever is behind this is absolute garbage. Swatting is dangerous, reckless, and could get someone killed. And if you’re faking a swatting incident just for attention? You’re just as despicable. As for those trying to use this to smear all liberals—let’s not pretend this is a one-sided issue. Swatting has happened across the political spectrum, and weaponizing it for partisan blame only makes things worse.”

What Happens Next

There have been no reported arrests in connection with the alleged swatting incidents. Patel vowed that there will be “more updates to come” regarding the FBI’s investigations.