WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Secret Service agents conducting a routine security sweep before the arrival of Air Force One made a surprising discovery. A hunting stand was found perched in a tree near the designated security zone, raising concerns just as President Biden was set to land.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on Sunday that no individuals were found at the scene. However, the FBI has mobilized resources to gather evidence and utilize cell phone analytics to further investigate the situation.
The hunting stand was located less than a mile from the Trump National Golf Club, a site of a previous incident. Last year, Ryon Ruth was convicted for aiming a rifle at the president from a tree line in the area.
In another past incident, then-President Trump was grazed by a bullet during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, adding to the history of security threats in the vicinity.
Southern Boulevard, the main route to Mar-a-Lago that runs adjacent to the airport, was temporarily closed over the weekend. It reopened after President Biden departed on Air Force One, returning to Washington.
Authorities have not reported any further incidents since the discovery. The FBI remains tight-lipped about potential suspects and has not disclosed whether any questioning has taken place.
The agency’s focus is now on analyzing cell phone activity in the vicinity, hoping to find leads that might link someone to the hunting stand.
Security measures around presidential visits are always stringent, but this recent find underscores the ongoing challenges faced by protective services.