Government agencies touched on Trump’s inauguration ‘potential target’ for extremists: report

Government agencies are warning that President-elect Trump’s inauguration could attract violent extremists — especially those harboring “election-related grievances,” according to a new report.

Although no specific credible threats have been identified, agencies such as the FBI, Secret Service and Capitol Police have authored a threat assessment that claims extremists may see the inauguration as “their last opportunity to influence the election results through violence.” That’s what the police write.

The threat assessment identified foreign terrorists, domestic extremists or lone wolves who could carry out acts of violence, including attacks that hit vehicles, bomb hoaxes or spoofing.

Likewise, law enforcement cited concerns about protests devolving into chaos, particularly as certain groups that have faced arrests in previous protests have applied for demonstration permits.

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The sun rises behind the US capital as a rehearsal takes place on the Western Front ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration, Sunday, January 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

“Past protests by some of these individuals have involved traffic blockades, trespassing, destruction of property and resisting arrest,” the threat assessment said.

Meanwhile, US Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger warned Monday that “lone actors” are the most serious threat to the inauguration festivities, during a news conference with federal and local law enforcement officials about the inauguration.

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Members of the U.S. military’s Joint Honor Guard parade as they practice for the presidential inauguration in front of the White House, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Newsroom)

“The biggest threat, I think, to all of us remains the lone actor,” Manger said. “Just this past week, while President Carter lay in state, we had two lone actors show up at the Capitol: one trying to bring in knives and a machete; another trying to — what I think — disrupt the proceedings. by set fire to their car in the peace zone area.”

“Capitol Police were able to interdict these people before they had a chance to do any harm,” Manger said. “But this lone actor threat remains the biggest reason we’re on this heightened alert through the next week.”

As a result, the inauguration will feature an increased presence of law enforcement agencies. About 4,000 local law enforcement officers have volunteered to help, and 7,800 National Guard soldiers will also be deployed.

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The US Capitol surrounded by fences in preparation for January 6, 2025. (Fox News Digital)

Matt McCool, Secret Service special agent in charge of the agency’s Washington field office, said a total of about 25,000 law enforcement officers will be working. McCool said this year’s inauguration plan includes a “slightly more robust security plan” compared to President Biden’s 2021 inauguration.

“What I can tell you is that we are 100% confident in the plan that we have put in place for this inauguration, that the public and our proteges will be safe,” McCool said.

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In addition, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, Pamela Smith, said it is preparing for 12 separate First Amendment demonstrations at the inauguration, noting that they will have the right to peacefully protest. Still, she said violence will not be allowed.

“I want to reiterate — as I always have — that violence, destruction and illegal behavior will not be tolerated,” Smith said Monday. “Criminals will face swift and decisive consequences.”

Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.