WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — U.S. Secret Service agents uncovered a suspicious elevated hunting stand positioned with a clear line of sight to the spot where President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, prompting a swift FBI investigation, officials confirmed Sunday.
The discovery was made Thursday during routine advance security sweeps ahead of Trump’s arrival in Florida, according to FBI Director Kash Patel and Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi. No individuals were present at the scene, and authorities emphasized that Trump’s movements were unaffected. However, the find has heightened concerns amid a series of recent threats against the president.
“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 told Fox News Digital. “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.”
Guglielmi added that the Secret Service is collaborating closely with the FBI and Palm Beach County law enforcement to process the site. “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,” he said in a statement to NBC News. “There was no impact to any movements and no individuals were present or involved at the location.”
A law enforcement source familiar with the matter described the stand as appearing to have been erected “months ago,” raising questions about its intent. The perch was located across the street from a section of the airport where private aircraft, including Trump’s personal plane, are often parked, according to a senior official.
The investigation unfolded against the backdrop of heightened security in Palm Beach County. On Saturday afternoon, Southern Boulevard—a key route near the airport and en route to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence—was closed between Congress Avenue and Military Trail for several hours due to the probe. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the shutdown was related to FBI activities, with portions of the road remaining restricted as of Sunday morning while agents continued evidence collection.
This incident comes just weeks after Ryan Routh, 59, was convicted of attempting to assassinate Trump on September 15, 2024, at a Palm Beach golf course. Routh had concealed himself in bushes along a fence line, creating a makeshift sniper’s nest in what prosecutors described as a brazen plot. The timing has fueled speculation on social media, with users on X decrying the discovery as evidence of ongoing threats and calling for enhanced protections.
“Think about that — someone set it up months ago. This isn’t politics anymore. This is an assassination setup against the sitting President of the United States,” one user posted, echoing widespread online outrage. Another highlighted the proximity: “USSS spotted a suspicious stand near the AF1 zone in Palm Beach. The FBI is investigating.”
Trump arrived at the airport around 6:24 p.m. Friday for a weekend visit and was scheduled to depart Sunday evening. Neither the White House nor the Trump campaign immediately responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The FBI has not yet linked the hunting stand to any specific individual, and Patel stressed that the agency is treating the discovery with the utmost urgency. As the probe continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the persistent security challenges facing the 47th president in his second term.