Federal authorities are investigating a suspicious hunting stand discovered near Palm Beach International Airport with a direct line of sight to where President Donald Trump typically exits Air Force One during his visits to Florida.
Secret Service agents uncovered the structure last week during advance security sweeps ahead of Trump’s arrival at the airport for the weekend. The elevated stand, positioned in a tree, overlooked the landing zone and exit area used by the former president.
Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service’s chief of communications, confirmed the discovery and emphasized that the agency’s security protocols worked as intended.
“During advance security preparations prior to the Palm Beach arrival, which included the use of technology and comprehensive physical sweeps, our teams identified items of interest near Palm Beach International Airport,” Guglielmi said. “There was no impact to any movements and no individuals were present or involved at the location.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead in the investigation. FBI Director Kash Patel said the stand has not yet been linked to any person.
“Prior to the President’s return to West Palm Beach, USSS discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone,” Patel said. “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.”
A law enforcement source told Fox News that the structure may have been in place for months. Authorities have not disclosed whether any weapons, equipment, or additional suspicious items were found.
On Sunday, the White House adjusted procedures as Trump departed from Palm Beach. A White House official said the president boarded Air Force One quickly and used the smaller stairs because of “increased security measures” at the airport. Those measures followed the stand’s discovery near a clear line of sight to the plane when Trump boards or departs.
The discovery comes amid heightened security concerns following two assassination attempts on Trump in the past year. In September 2024, Ryan Routh attempted to target Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, setting up a sniper’s nest in bushes near the fence line. He was apprehended shortly after the attempt.
A federal jury recently found Routh guilty on five federal charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.
The Secret Service said the incident highlights the importance of layered security measures around the former president’s movements. The FBI investigation remains ongoing.