Federal officials have reported the discovery of a suspicious stand near the Palm Beach International Airport, an area frequently used by Air Force One when former President Trump travels to Florida. This revelation was made by FBI Director Kash Patel through a social media post on Sunday. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that they identified items of interest while conducting a security sweep of the area prior to Mr. Trump's arrival on Friday.
While the Secret Service did not disclose the specific items found, they did share a photograph that displayed what appeared to be a platform or hunting stand elevated high in a tree. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, stated that there was no impact on any airport operations and emphasized that no individuals were present at the location during the incident.
Multiple sources revealed to CBS News that the hunting stand was located across a highway, positioned in a tree line more than 200 yards away from the airport. Observations indicate that the stand had apparently been in place for months, evidenced by its weathered condition. Notably, Mr. Trump had not utilized that section of the airport over the past year due to ongoing construction, which meant there was no direct line of sight to him from the stand. Consequently, this area was not included in the Secret Service's routine sweeps of the site.
With the conclusion of construction work, Air Force One resumed its use of the designated area at the airport, leading to the prompt discovery of the stand by the Secret Service during their initial security checks. However, it remains unclear exactly when the construction was completed.
Former President Trump arrived at Palm Beach airport on Friday and is scheduled to return to Washington on Sunday after spending the weekend at his Mar-A-Lago club. The airport is conveniently located less than a mile north of Mr. Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach, which has previously been the scene of serious security threats. Last year, an attempted assassination plot against the president took place at this very golf club.
In a related incident, prosecutors revealed that Ryan Routh, who was convicted in connection with the assassination plot last month, had aimed a rifle from the tree line of the golf club towards the president. Fortunately, vigilant Secret Service agents were able to spot him and responded by opening fire, averting a potential tragedy.
This recent discovery of the suspicious stand raises significant concerns regarding security protocols at the airport and surrounding areas, especially given the historical context of threats against the former president. The Secret Service continues to enhance its measures to ensure the safety of high-profile individuals during their travels.
