In a development that has rattled security officials and reignited debate over presidential safety, a suspicious hunting stand with a direct line of sight to Air Force One was discovered near Palm Beach International Airport just hours before President Donald Trump’s arrival in Florida last Friday. The incident, first reported by multiple news outlets including Fox News, CNN, and the Miami Herald, has prompted an ongoing investigation by both the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI, with authorities moving swiftly to dismantle the structure and analyze it for forensic evidence.
The stand, described as an elevated wooden hunting perch, was found on Thursday, October 16, 2025, during a routine security sweep conducted by the Secret Service as part of their advance preparations for the president’s visit. According to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, "There was no impact to any movements and no individuals were present or involved at the location." Guglielmi emphasized that the discovery showcased the importance of the agency’s "layered security measures" and that the FBI had taken the investigatory lead, working alongside local law enforcement in Palm Beach.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the details in a statement to Fox News Digital and other outlets, saying, "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 added that no individuals were located at the scene and that the FBI had flown in resources to collect all evidence from the site, deploying advanced digital and biometric forensic tools in hopes of identifying who constructed the stand and for what purpose. "We are working with our DOJ partners on service of any legal process required and will provide updates when able," Patel noted.
The location of the stand has raised eyebrows within the security community. Investigators revealed that the perch overlooked a section of the airport where private planes, and sometimes Air Force One, have parked. A senior official told NBC News that while Air Force One had not parked in the immediate area recently due to ongoing construction, the presidential aircraft was expected to resume using that section once work was completed. The stand’s condition suggested it had been in place for several months, a detail corroborated by both CBS News and CNN. Law enforcement sources pointed out that such stands are routinely used by hunters—often bow hunters or those using firearms—and are sometimes left in wooded areas for extended periods to be reused.
Despite the stand’s proximity and vantage point, investigators have been careful not to jump to conclusions. A law enforcement source told CNN that "there is nothing to currently indicate the stand was built to target the president." Nonetheless, the timing and location of the discovery, coming just before President Trump’s scheduled arrival, have led security officials to treat the matter with the utmost seriousness.
Once discovered, the hunting stand was promptly dismantled and transported to an FBI laboratory for exhaustive forensic analysis. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino explained to Fox News that "all of the forensic tools we have—from digital tools to biometric tools—they’re all going to be applied to try to find out who put this up there and why." The FBI has also utilized cell phone analytics in the investigation, hoping to uncover digital traces or communications related to the stand’s construction.
The incident did not disrupt any presidential movements or scheduled activities. In fact, the Secret Service reported that President Trump’s arrival and subsequent departure from Palm Beach over the weekend proceeded without incident. However, as a precaution, Trump boarded Air Force One on Sunday using a set of lower steps that led into the plane’s belly, a measure attributed to heightened security, according to a White House official cited by the Miami Herald.
The discovery comes against a backdrop of heightened concern for the president’s safety, following two high-profile assassination attempts during Trump’s second campaign for the White House. Just last month, Ryan Routh was found guilty on multiple federal charges after attempting to kill Trump at his Palm Beach golf course by setting up a sniper’s nest in bushes along a fence line. That event was preceded by another attempt in July 2024, when Trump was injured by gunfire during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Secret Service later acknowledged that the Butler incident represented an "operational failure," citing breakdowns in communication, technology, and human oversight as contributing factors.
Given this recent history, the presence of an unclaimed elevated structure with a clear view of the president’s arrival point has sparked both public curiosity and concern. The Secret Service has remained tight-lipped about the specific "items of interest" found near the airport, declining to provide details about their nature or possible intent. "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," Guglielmi reiterated in his statement.
As part of their investigation, authorities closed lanes of Southern Boulevard, a major thoroughfare near the airport, between Congress Avenue and Military Trail on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The roadways were reopened Sunday evening after the FBI completed its initial evidence collection. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and airport officials have so far declined to comment on specifics, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Security experts have noted that while hunting stands are not uncommon in wooded or semi-rural areas, their presence near sensitive locations such as airports—especially those frequented by the president—demands careful scrutiny. The FBI and Secret Service are reportedly working with local law enforcement and the Department of Justice to determine the origins of the stand and whether its placement was coincidental or part of a more troubling scheme.
At this stage, neither the FBI nor the Secret Service has classified the stand as a direct threat to President Trump or revealed any suspects. The agencies have also not indicated whether they believe the stand is linked to any broader plot or is simply an abandoned hunting perch. Investigators continue to urge the public to report any suspicious activity near sensitive sites, reiterating the message that vigilance is key in the current security environment.
For now, the discovery serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing those tasked with protecting the nation’s highest office—where even the most routine security sweep can uncover potential threats lurking in plain sight.
