An Ohio-based fireworks company received numerous bomb threats after President Trump praised the business on Twitter.
Phantom Fireworks received two anonymous phone calls from the same person hours after Trump drew attention to the company by thanking it for donating part of the fireworks to be used in D.C.’s Independence Day celebration, according to Fox News.
The first threat came in around 8:30 p.m., saying everyone in the building “needed to get out” because a bomb had been planted. He called again minutes later and imitated a clock, saying, “tik-tok, tik-tok” before abruptly hanging up.
Phantom Fireworks contacted the Youngstown Police Department. The police evacuated the building and conducted a complete search of the premises, finding nothing.
The threats came after Trump thanked Phantom Fireworks and Fireworks by Grucci in a Tuesday tweet. The businesses donated the fireworks for Trump’s “Salute to America” on Thursday.
“Thanks to ‘Phantom Fireworks’ and ‘Fireworks by Grucci’ for their generosity in donating the biggest fireworks show Washington D.C. has ever seen. CEO’s Bruce Zoldan and Phil Grucci are helping to make this the greatest 4th of July celebration in our Nations history!” Trump said.
Thanks to “Phantom Fireworks” and “Fireworks by Grucci” for their generosity in donating the biggest fireworks show Washington D.C. has ever seen. CEO’s Bruce Zoldan and Phil Grucci are helping to make this the greatest 4th of July celebration in our Nations history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
“Unfortunately we had a bomb threat called in twice. Police and bomb squad and canine units came to search the entire premises. This was done shortly after President Trump’s tweet thanking Phantom Fireworks and Me personally for donating this year’s fireworks for the Washington D.C. show,” Phantom Fireworks CEO Bruce Zoldan said in a statement late Tuesday.
Phantom Fireworks Vice President William Weimer called the threats the “total work of a coward.”
