Trump weighs in on Nancy Guthrie investigation after Savannah’s emotional public plea

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump weighed in on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, as questions continue to surround the handling of the six-month-old investigation.

Trump's remarks came on Sunday, August 2, just a day after Savannah shared an emotional public message marking six months since her mother vanished from her Tucson-area home.

The president's comments also arrive as FBI Director Kash Patel and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos continue to publicly disagree over how the investigation unfolded during its critical early days.

Trump responds to questions about Nancy Guthrie investigation

While speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump was asked whether it was time for the FBI to take a bigger role in the investigation into Nancy's disappearance.

Responding to the question, Trump said, "Well, they are involved to an extent, but as you know, the local community really runs those things."

He also acknowledged that the local investigation has faced criticism from some observers.

"Some people haven't liked the way the local community's run it. They haven't liked the way the sheriff's run it," Trump said.

Despite those concerns, the president stopped short of criticizing local officials directly.

"But we would like to give them the benefit… but we're there anytime they need us. It's a terrible thing," he added.

Authorities first received a missing person report on February 1 after Nancy disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona-area home. Investigators have not identified any suspects in the case. 

Kash Patel and Chris Nanos offer conflicting accounts

Trump's comments came as FBI Director Kash Patel and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos continued to offer sharply different versions of how federal agents became involved in the investigation.

Patel has repeatedly argued that the FBI was prevented from assisting during the earliest and most important days of the search.

"We showed up immediately and offered our assistance. We were not let in for four days. And that's their choice," Patel said during an interview with NewsNation.

He had previously made a similar claim while appearing on Sean Hannity's podcast in May.

Nanos strongly rejected Patel's version of events.

Speaking to ‘The Sharpe Exchange’, the sheriff called Patel "misinformed" before adding, "That's just not even accurate. They were there from day one, just as my team was."

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says investigation remains active

Despite the public back-and-forth, Nanos insisted that investigators continue to actively pursue leads in the case.

According to the sheriff, authorities have received "tens of thousands of tips" since Nancy disappeared.

He also described his working relationship with the FBI as "good," pointing to years of cooperation through the Southern Arizona Violent Crime Task Force.

Seeking to reassure Savannah and her family, Nanos said, "We're still here. We are not going away."

One day before Trump's comments, Savannah shared an emotional statement reflecting on the painful six-month milestone.

"Six months ago, someone took her out of her bed in the dead of night. We have lived every moment, every breath, and every heartbeat in agony and despair ever since," she wrote.