Federal agents have stumbled upon a chilling discovery at Palm Beach International Airport, right where President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One.
Just before Trump’s arrival on Friday, Oct. 17, 2024, for a weekend stay in Palm Beach County, the U.S. Secret Service found a suspicious hunting stand with a clear view of the landing zone, sparking an FBI investigation that has kept parts of Southern Boulevard shuttered for days, according to USA Today.
Let’s rewind to Friday evening when Trump touched down around 6:24 p.m., ready for some downtime at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Unbeknownst to most, Secret Service agents had already spotted this odd structure earlier that day, positioned with a direct sightline to where Air Force One parks. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder who’s watching—and why.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, 2024, Trump was out swinging clubs at his Trump International Golf Club, while law enforcement was locking down Southern Boulevard between Congress Avenue and Military Trail. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced the closure at 5:30 p.m. that day, leaving motorists scrambling for alternate routes with little explanation.
Turns out, the FBI had taken the lead on investigating this mysterious hunting stand, which, according to a law enforcement source speaking to Fox News, looked like it had been there for months. That’s a long time for something so suspiciously placed to go unnoticed near a presidential hotspot.
By Sunday, Oct. 19, 2024, the Secret Service confirmed the discovery to The Palm Beach Post, while parts of the roadway stayed closed for FBI evidence collection. The road finally reopened at 5 p.m. that day, roughly 24 hours after the shutdown. Still, no word on who might be behind this setup—FBI Director Kash Patel noted no individual has been linked to it yet.
Speaking of Patel, he told Fox News, “Before the President’s return to West Palm Beach, [the U.S. Secret Service] discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone. No individuals were located at the scene.” Well, that’s a relief—no immediate threat—but it doesn’t answer why this perch was there in the first place, staring down a critical security area.
Patel added, “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.” Here’s hoping those analytics pinpoint something fast, because this kind of oversight near a president’s travel path isn’t just a glitch—it’s a glaring red flag for national security.
Meanwhile, the Secret Service isn’t sitting idle. Their Chief of Communications, Anthony Guglielmi, told Fox News they are “working closely” with the FBI and local law enforcement in Palm Beach County. That’s the kind of teamwork we need, though one can’t help but ask why such a vantage point wasn’t caught sooner in a place crawling with protective measures.
Consider the context: Trump’s motorcade regularly travels this very stretch of Southern Boulevard between the airport and Mar-a-Lago. Before any presidential visit, authorities establish a tight perimeter around the Atlantic Aviation site at the airport, complete with sharpshooters on rooftops and a wall of yellow school buses as a barrier. Checkpoints control access roads, yet somehow, this stand slipped through the cracks.
This discovery comes hot on the heels of other alarming incidents targeting Trump, like the September 15, 2024, assassination attempt at his golf course in unincorporated West Palm Beach, where Ryan Routh was convicted after a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel in the bushes. Then there was the July 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a sniper injured Trump in the ear and tragically killed a supporter. These events remind us that the stakes couldn’t be higher.
While the FBI processes the scene with local officials securing the area, Southern Boulevard’s closure caused headaches for drivers, with the sheriff’s office urging patience amid delays on Saturday. On the same day, thousands gathered across Palm Beach County for “No Kings” protests against Trump’s policies. It’s a stark contrast—security tightening while public dissent brews nearby.
As Trump prepares to leave Palm Beach County on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 19, 2024, questions about this hunting stand remain unanswered. Who set it up, and for what purpose? In an era of heightened threats, every oddity near a president demands scrutiny, not shrugs.
Let’s be clear: while some might chalk this up to overzealous precaution, dismissing potential dangers around a figure as polarizing as Trump is naive at best. Security isn’t just protocol—it’s survival in a world where threats lurk in unexpected places, even overlooking an airport runway.
Ultimately, this incident underscores the relentless pressure on law enforcement to stay ten steps ahead of any risk. With the FBI’s resources in full swing, Americans can only hope for swift answers about this eerie setup. Until then, every motorcade route, every landing zone, deserves an extra hard look—because complacency isn’t an option.
