Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP / Getty Images
The U.S. Secret Service discovered a suspicious hunting stand near Palm Beach International Airport on Thursday (October 15), with a direct sight line to where President Donald Trump exits Air Force One. The FBI is now leading an investigation into the discovery, according to Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service.
The hunting stand was found during routine security sweeps in preparation for the president's arrival in West Palm Beach. No individuals were located near the stand, which was described as elevated and within the sight line of the Air Force One landing zone. The FBI has deployed resources to collect evidence and is using cell phone analytics to assist in the investigation.
The stand was in a tree near Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Despite the discovery, the Secret Service confirmed that it did not impact any of the president's movements.
CNN reported that the hunting stand has been dismantled and is being analyzed for forensic evidence to determine who set it up and why.
The stand's presence comes amid heightened security concerns following two assassination attempts on President Trump. In September 2024, Ryan Routh was convicted of attempting to assassinate Trump on a golf course in West Palm Beach. Additionally, in July 2024, Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.