President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he intends to personally call Savannah Guthrie, the longtime host of NBC’s Today Show, following the alarming disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, in Arizona—a case that authorities are treating as an apparent abduction.
Trump, speaking to reporters during a brief media gaggle after signing legislation to reopen the government following this week’s partial shutdown, described the situation as “terrible” and expressed sympathy for the Guthrie family. “I think it’s terrible,” he said. “I always got along very good with Savannah, and this is obviously a very unusual situation.”
The President also confirmed that federal law enforcement resources would be deployed to the Tucson area to assist local authorities in the investigation. “I’m going to call her later on,” Trump added. “We’re going to get to the bottom of what happened.”
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reportedly taken from her home in the Catalina Foothills, an affluent community north of Tucson, sometime overnight Saturday. Local investigators confirmed that she did not appear for Sunday church services, prompting a missing person alert.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the investigation, told the Daily Mail that the case has taken on “very unusual” dimensions and described the elder Guthrie as being in immediate danger due to her medical conditions. “We have someone’s life who is in jeopardy,” Nanos said at a Tuesday press briefing. Nancy Guthrie has high blood pressure, a pacemaker, and other cardiac issues, and authorities fear she could suffer serious health complications if she is deprived of her medication.
On Tuesday, entertainment news outlet TMZ reported that a purported ransom note had been sent to the Guthrie family, demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin in exchange for her safe return. Fox News also obtained a recording of the 911 call made by a family member to alert authorities about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. The dispatcher emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting her serious health risks.
Despite forensic efforts, law enforcement has yet to identify any suspects connected to the disappearance. DNA evidence collected at Nancy Guthrie’s residence confirmed her presence at the home, but so far, nothing points to the individual responsible for her abduction. Investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that every hour is critical in ensuring her safety.
Savannah Guthrie, who has hosted the Today Show for more than a decade, has not been on air amid the crisis. She took to social media on Monday, appealing directly to her followers for support. In a heartfelt post, she requested that people “please pray” and join the family in hoping for her mother’s safe return.
“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope,” she wrote. “We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him. Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. We need you.” She concluded the post with a Bible verse from the book of Isaiah, further emphasizing her reliance on faith during this crisis.
Trump’s engagement in the case marks a rare instance of a sitting president expressing direct involvement in a high-profile abduction matter. His relationship with Guthrie is longstanding; he and the anchor have crossed paths multiple times in professional settings, including during the 2016 presidential campaign. A photo from April 2016 shows Trump with Savannah Guthrie and former Today Show anchor Matt Lauer at a campaign event. Trump recalled that he had “always got along very good with Savannah” and reiterated his intention to reach out personally to her.
This is not the first time that Savannah Guthrie has confronted Trump in her professional capacity. She gained national attention during a widely publicized NBC town hall in the fall of the 2020 presidential campaign, where she pressed the then-candidate on critical issues, including COVID-19, the QAnon conspiracy theory, mask mandates, and his controversial retweets of conspiratorial content. Despite the intensity of those interviews, she has maintained a cordial personal relationship with Trump, which he highlighted in his remarks on Tuesday.
The ongoing investigation has mobilized multiple law enforcement agencies. Federal authorities are now assisting Pima County in the search for Nancy Guthrie, using resources that include forensic experts and intelligence units capable of analyzing digital communications and potential ransom demands. Investigators are especially focused on the alleged bitcoin ransom note, seeking to trace any transactions that could lead to the suspect.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stressed the life-threatening nature of the situation during his press briefing. “Nancy has medical conditions that make this extremely serious,” he said. “We are asking anyone who may know anything to step forward. Every piece of information could be vital in bringing her home safely.” Authorities also asked the public not to speculate or share unverified information, noting that false leads could divert critical resources during the search.
The news of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has reverberated across social media, drawing widespread attention and support for Savannah Guthrie and her family. Fellow journalists, entertainers, and viewers have expressed solidarity, with many echoing her call for prayers and positive thoughts. The Today Show anchor has remained absent from her broadcasting duties, underscoring the personal toll of the crisis.
As the investigation continues, Trump’s announcement of federal involvement and his promise to personally reach out to Guthrie reflects the heightened sensitivity surrounding high-profile cases involving public figures. While some analysts question the precedent of a sitting president publicly commenting on individual criminal investigations, others note that it demonstrates a measure of empathy and concern for the immediate safety of a citizen, particularly someone with known health vulnerabilities.
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance in the Catalina Foothills has shocked the local community, known for its quiet streets and low crime rates. Law enforcement officials continue to canvass the neighborhood, review surveillance footage, and conduct interviews with neighbors and potential witnesses. The combination of local police diligence and federal support aims to expedite the search, but authorities caution that no timeline can be predicted for the safe return of the elder Guthrie.
In the meantime, Savannah Guthrie has been focusing on keeping her followers informed and engaged through her social media platforms. Her message, blending appeals for prayer with faith-based encouragement, has resonated with her audience, highlighting both her personal anguish and the broader human concern for a missing loved one. She has asked for continued public vigilance and sensitivity, urging people to assist law enforcement in any way they can without spreading unconfirmed reports.
The situation remains fluid, with law enforcement and the family actively working to secure Nancy Guthrie’s safe return. President Trump’s personal outreach, coupled with the deployment of federal investigative resources, underscores the national attention the case has drawn. Authorities continue to emphasize that while the circumstances are “very unusual,” every effort is being made to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
As of Tuesday, no arrests had been made, and law enforcement officials continue to investigate all leads, including the alleged ransom note. The community, the media, and the Guthrie family remain on high alert, hoping that the combined efforts of local and federal authorities will soon result in the safe recovery of Nancy Guthrie.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
