Trump steps in, calls Savannah Guthrie amid criminal probe into her mother's disappearance

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump personally called NBC 'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday, February 4, as authorities continued to search for her missing mother in Arizona.

The outreach placed the president amid an active investigation that officials said was being treated as a potential criminal case.

Trump calls Savannah Guthrie's situation 'terrible'

The White House confirmed that Trump spoke with Guthrie by phone, though no details of the conversation were disclosed.

The call came a day after Trump publicly said that he would reach out to the NBC anchor and offer federal assistance if needed.

“I think it’s terrible,” Trump had told reporters Tuesday. “I’m going to call Savannah later on. Very unusual situation, but we’re going to find out.”

Authorities warn against speculation while search continues

Guthrie’s mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, was last seen on Saturday night at her home in Tucson, Arizona.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that investigators believe that criminal activity may have been involved.

Sheriff Chris Nanos said on Monday, “We do, in fact, have a crime,” but declined to elaborate further.

Reports previously claimed that investigators found blood drops leading from the home’s entryway toward the driveway. 

Arizona authorities said that there was no suspect or person of interest in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. 

He added that the department was working closely with the Guthrie family and cautioned that circulating unverified claims could hinder the investigation.

Sheriff’s officials emphasized that detectives were still gathering information and warned against speculation as the search continued.

Nanos said, “Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs Guthrie.”

A complicated history between Trump and Guthrie

Trump’s call came despite a strained public history between the two, most notably during the 2020 election cycle when Guthrie moderated a contentious town hall with the president.

During that event, Guthrie accused Trump of spreading misinformation and at one point compared his rhetoric to “someone’s crazy uncle,” drawing widespread attention at the time.

Still, Trump downplayed the friction this week.

“I always got along very good with Savannah,” he said on Tuesday from the White House.

As the investigation continues, Guthrie has publicly leaned on faith, asking supporters to pray for her mother’s safe return.

“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope,” Guthrie wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “Above all, we believe in Him.”