The FBI is investigating a hunting stand that the Secret Service uncovered last week near Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, where President Donald Trump usually lands on Air Force One when traveling from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The hunting stand was suspicious because it was positioned in a tree with a direct line of sight to the Air Force One landing zone. The discovery is especially concerning, given that Trump was the target of two previous assassination attempts last year.
Secret Service agents found the hunting stand before Trump arrived at the Palm Beach airport on Friday for a weekend visit.
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Without disclosing specific details, a spokesman for the Secret Service confirmed the discovery in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
“The U.S. Secret Service is working closely with the FBI and our law enforcement partners in Palm Beach County,” communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said. “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. There was no impact to any movements and no individuals were present or involved at the location.”
“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 added. “The FBI is leading the investigation and we would refer any additional comment to them.”
The Washington Examiner contacted the FBI Miami Field Office for further comment.
FBI Director Kash Patel publicly confirmed the bureau is investigating the matter.
The FBI closed a stretch of road near the airport on Saturday for the investigation, local news outlets reported. No details on the investigation were provided at the time.
The news comes more than a year after Trump survived two assassination attempts, one of which took place at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Ryan Routh attempted to shoot the Republican presidential nominee in September 2024, but his plan was quickly thwarted by a Secret Service agent accompanying Trump on the golf course. Shortly after fleeing the scene, Routh was apprehended by authorities.
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Last month, a federal jury found the gunman guilty of all counts for attempting to assassinate Trump. The defendant faced five federal criminal charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.
During the assassination attempt, Routh positioned himself in some bushes behind a fence bordering the golf course. Based on witness testimony, he did not fire a single shot at Trump or the agent.