FBI probes hunting stand overlooking Trump's Air Force One exit in Florida
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The US Secret Service, which protects President Donald Trump, discovered a suspicious "sniper position" that had a clear view of where the president would exit Air Force One, Fox News reports.
The hunting stand was found on the evening of October 16 at the Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. The FBI is examining the discovery. FBI Director Kash Patel said it is not yet possible to link the stand to any individual.
"No individuals were located at the scene. The FBI has since taken the investigatory lead, flying in resources to collect all evidence from the scene, and deploying our cell phone analytics capabilities," Patel said.
Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the US Secret Service, confirmed his team is working with the FBI and local police. Agents discovered the stand during a routine security check ahead of Trump's arrival in Palm Beach.
"While we are not able to provide details about the specific items or their intent, this incident underscores the importance of our layered security measures," he said.
A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital the stand appeared to have been set up "months ago" without drawing anyone's attention.
Assassination attempts on Trump in 2024
The most well-known attempt occurred during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. On July 13, 2024, at a rally in Butler, Trump was shot at with a semi-automatic rifle. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, grazed Trump's ear. A man behind the podium was killed, and two others were injured. The shooter was neutralized by return fire.
A second suspected attempt occurred on September 15, 2024. While playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, shots were fired near the future president. Authorities later arrested 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, a resident of Hawaii.
