Donald Trump has threatened Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers with the death penalty if she isn't returned alive

US President Trump has told the New York Post that if she is found dead, her abductors will face "very, very severe - the most severe" federal consequences.

Asked if that meant the Department of Juice could request the death penalty, he added: "The most, yeah - that's true."

While Trump hasn't spoken publicly about the case too often, he did recently reveal he had spoken to Savannah and vowed to deploy "all resources" to get her hope.

In a post on Truth Social earlier this month, he wrote: "I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family's, and Local Law Enforcement's, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY.

"We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY!"

Meanwhile, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has clarified that the investigation isn't focused on the Guthrie family.

He said in a statement: "To be clear ... the Guthrie family - to include all siblings and spouses - has been cleared as possible suspects. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.

"To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple."

Nancy's disappearance is being treated as a possible kidnapping, although authorities are finding it tough to establish a motive.

Nanos told the Daily Mail newspaper: "This is somebody who's disappeared from the face of the earth, and now we have a camera that says here's the person who did this.

"And that's what makes me say this is a kidnapping. The motivation for it is where we get stuck, right? Is it for money? I mean, we had the one demand where they asked for money. But is it really for money, or is it for revenge for something?"