Karoline Leavitt Issues Shocking Update on Drone Threat

ABC reported that an FBI memo warned that California and the U.S. West Coast could be the target of a surprise drone attack from Iran, immediately sparking fears not only in the Golden State but around the country –  especially at a time when the Department of Homeland Security is shut down.

Now it appears this revelation was based on an unverified source, and according to the White House, not true.

As reported:

The White House is pushing back after an FBI warning about the possibility of an Iranian attack on California drew widespread attention.

“To be clear: no such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday in a social media post.

One day earlier, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was “aware” of an FBI warning that Iran could target California with drone strikes in retaliation for American attacks against the country — though he said no threat is imminent.

“We are aware of that information and have transferred that information in real time to our local partners,” the governor said Wednesday.

Newsom’s office told FOX40 the governor is actively working with state, local and federal security officials on the potential threat, which was first reported by ABC News earlier in the day. In a statement, Newsom said he did not know of any “imminent threats at this time.”

How quickly the tide turns. The story of a planned drone strike on California really blew up overnight. And this is a reminder of how important it is to keep your head when you hear these headlines and soundbites.

The aforementioned warning came in the form of an FBI email to local law enforcement about a single unverified tip. It did not list any specific targets, a timeline, a method, or even identified perpetrators, but that was all it took. The headline circled the globe before many of us finished our first cup of coffee, and people were understandably concerned.

Then today, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a statement on X, quoting a tweet from ABC and pushing back strongly on the report:

This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people.

They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even states the tip was based on *unverified* intelligence. Yet ABC News left out this critical fact in their story! WHY?

TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.

Leavitt bluntly stated that the report should be retracted because it created unnecessary alarm and clarified that there is no verified Iranian drone threat to the U.S. homeland.

This should be a reminder that we all have to sift through these headlines and media bites more closely. Especially at a time when there are very real security concerns. Modern media moves incredibly fast. There’s enormous pressure to publish first, and that business model rewards clicks and attention, and dramatic headlines tend to do the trick. But you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.

And sadly, corrections and retractions rarely get the same attention as the original headlines.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more analysis of the alarming-turned-confusing announcement out of the FBI about a potential threat to California from Iran, and the White House’s response, via Press Secretary Leavitt. We were also joined by former Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell for his personal reaction. 

Watch the full broadcast below: