PALM BEACH, Fla. — Federal authorities have launched an investigation after Secret Service agents discovered a suspicious hunting stand positioned in a line of sight toward the Air Force One landing area at Palm Beach International Airport. The discovery came Sunday, just prior to President Donald Trump’s arrival in West Palm Beach.
The elevated stand, whose vantage appeared to directly target the President’s aircraft, was found during routine security sweeps conducted by the Secret Service around the airport perimeter. Mar-a-Lago, the President’s Florida residence, is located a short distance from the airport.
“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,” FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital.
Authorities reported that no individuals were present at the site at the time of discovery. The FBI has since assumed the lead in the investigation, deploying specialized teams to collect evidence and utilizing cell phone analytics to track potential suspects.
“There was no impact to any movements and no individuals were present or involved at the location,” said Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service. “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.”
The incident comes amid a reported rise in politically motivated violence. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have cited a nearly tenfold increase in assaults on agents in recent months.
The discovery also follows a violent attack earlier this year: Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a close Trump ally, was fatally targeted by an individual reportedly promoting pro-transgender and pro-Antifa rhetoric.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the hunting stand, urging anyone with information to come forward as the probe unfolds.