President Donald Trump faced altered protocols upon departing Palm Beach International Airport on Sunday, boarding Air Force One via portable stairs instead of the standard method, due to "increased security measures" following the detection of a suspicious structure nearby.
The elevated hunting stand, discovered Friday, offered a direct line of sight to the Air Force One landing zone, prompting swift action from federal agencies. FBI Director Kash Patel detailed the find, stating the structure was "'within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone.' 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 White House official confirmed the Friday discovery necessitated the Sunday precautions as Trump returned to the airport en route to Washington D.C.
The Secret Service collaborated closely with the FBI and Palm Beach County law enforcement, though no suspects have been identified. "The stand has not been tied to any individual," officials noted.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi emphasized operational continuity, saying, "There was no impact to any movements and no individuals were present or involved at the location."
He added, "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."
This episode unfolds less than a month after Ryan Routh's conviction for plotting to assassinate Trump in September 2024. Routh, who approached Trump during a golf outing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, was arrested after a Secret Service agent spotted him with a rifle through a fence. In court last month, Routh stabbed himself in the neck with a pen upon hearing the guilty verdict.