Trump vows answers on 10 ‘missing’ scientists: ‘I hope it’s random’
April 16, 2026
President Trump declared that his administration will have an answer within the next few days to questions about 10 scientists who died or supposedly disappeared over the past three years. Conspiracy theories about the scientists have spread online, but right now, there is no solid evidence of a connection between those deaths and disappearances. “Well,...
Former President Donald Trump has pledged to provide answers regarding the disappearances and deaths of at least ten scientists and officials with access to sensitive U.S. government secrets since 2023. Speaking to reporters, Trump described the situation as "very serious" and stated he had just come from a meeting on the subject. He expressed hope that the incidents are random but assured that the matter would be investigated over a short period. This promise of a swift inquiry comes amid growing public concern and pressure for a formal investigation into a possible connection between the cases.
The string of incidents, which began in 2023, involves individuals connected to some of the nation's most critical scientific and defense institutions, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center. These facilities are at the forefront of nuclear weapons development, advanced propulsion systems, and next-generation energy technologies. The pattern of disappearances and deaths has raised alarms within the U.S. security and intelligence communities about potential espionage, security breaches, or other threats to these vital national programs.
The circumstances surrounding each case have fueled speculation and concern. Several of the missing scientists reportedly left their homes on foot, leaving behind personal belongings such as wallets, keys, and phones. For instance, Steven Garcia, a government contractor working on non-nuclear components for U.S. nuclear weapons, vanished in August 2025 after leaving his New Mexico home with only a handgun. Similarly, Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casiazs, both from Los Alamos National Laboratory, disappeared in 2025 after abandoning all their possessions. Other cases have been violent; astrophysicist Carl Grillmair and nuclear physicist Nuno Loureiro were both shot to death.
Prior to Trump's direct address, the White House had acknowledged the growing reports. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that while she had not yet consulted with the relevant agencies, the administration would look into the matter if the reports were accurate. Leavitt's comments followed questions during a press briefing about whether the intelligence community was probing a possible link between the cases. The administration's response has been under scrutiny, with some critics expressing frustration over the perceived delay in addressing the issue publicly.
As the investigation proceeds, questions remain about whether these cases are a series of tragic coincidences or part of a coordinated effort. While some officials, like Harvard Professor Avi Loeb, have suggested that people may be connecting unrelated events, others, including former senior FBI official Chris Swecker, believe modern espionage could be at play. The administration has indicated that it expects to have more information in the coming week and a half, a development that will be closely watched by the public, the scientific community, and national security experts alike. The probe will likely involve multiple agencies, including the FBI, as they work to determine if there is a common thread linking these unsettling events.
Source: nypost