US President Donald Trump boarded Air Force One using a smaller, internal staircase at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) on Sunday, according to a White House official. The use of the “small steps” was attributed to “increased security measures” following the discovery of a potential threat near the airport.
The tightened precautions came after the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand on Friday near the airport. The structure was positioned with a “clear line of sight” toward the area where Air Force One routinely parks and departs—a location deemed a “potential sniper position.”
“USSS spotted a suspicious stand near the AF1 zone in Palm Beach. The FBI is investigating,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi confirmed agents found the structure during “advance security preparations” ahead of the president’s arrival, emphasizing that “no individuals were present or involved at the location.”
“There was no impact to any movements,” Guglielmi told Fox News. “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.”
The Secret Service and the FBI are continuing a joint investigation in coordination with local law enforcement in Palm Beach County. The security scare comes only weeks after Ryan Routh was found guilty of attempting to assassinate President Trump by setting up a sniper’s nest on a Palm Beach golf course.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
