Federal authorities are on alert after finding an elevated hunting stand in a tree near Palm Beach International Airport shortly before President Donald Trump's arrival last Friday. The find, in proximity to a potential Air Force One landing zone, was part of routine security sweeps by the U.S. Secret Service. The FBI has since taken charge of the investigation, with agents shutting down Southern Boulevard to investigate but reopening it in time for Trump's departure, WSVN reported.
Travelers and locals experienced some disruption due to the road closure, with one passenger, Wu Achiaw, arriving to see the highway blocked and police present. "I got to the airport maybe 20 minutes ago. All I saw was the cops blocking the highway, so of course it’s like, ‘Oh, somebody’s here," Achiaw told WSVN. The incident happens in the backdrop of two assassination attempts made against the president in the year 2024, raising the stakes for such security risks.
In an official statement to the media, Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesperson, confirmed that their security preparations, including the use of technology and thorough sweeps, helped in identifying the suspicious hunting stand. "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," Guglielmi said, as reported by NBC News. No individuals were found at the location, and the president's movements remained unaffected by the discovery.
The president, having faced multiple threats over the last two years, continues his Florida weekend as if undeterred by potential danger. Whether at a rally in Pennsylvania or on a golf course in Florida, the president has become all too familiar with the scent of threat lurking from rooftops or shrubbery. In a separate incident earlier this year, a man was arrested for making social media threats to kill Trump, and a Wisconsin man for forging threats while attempting to frame another individual, NBC News detailed.
As the investigation continues, the FBI has yet to unveil any details about a suspect or the timing behind the placement of the hunting stand. A law enforcement source mentioned to Fox News that it could have been set up months ago, according to WSVN.
