U.S. military commands have placed ground-based air-defense assets around President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club at the Secret Service’s request, ahead of his Friday trip to Palm Beach, while no specific threat has been publicly disclosed.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) said they positioned the assets after the Secret Service requested support. A spokesperson for the commands declined to discuss tactics or procedures, citing security considerations. The Secret Service said it was operating in a “heightened threat environment” and that the commands were providing counter-unmanned-aircraft capabilities for protective operations.
Palm Beach Daily News reported a pair of Avenger short-range air-defense systems on a barge near Mar-a-Lago and another group south of the airport. WPTV also reported identifying Avenger systems among equipment in the area. The U.S. Army says the Avenger is designed to counter low-flying unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. NORAD and USNORTHCOM have not named the deployed systems, confirmed the reported locations or said how long the assets will remain.
The White House schedule lists Trump delivering remarks at a Daytona Beach rally at 7 p.m. EDT Friday, then traveling to Palm Beach. It gives no Palm Beach arrival time and does not say whether Trump will attend a Halloween event at Mar-a-Lago.
A Federal Aviation Administration notice for West Palm Beach sets flight restrictions from 7:59 p.m. EDT Friday, Oct. 30, until 12:30 p.m. EST Nov. 1. The notice covers an outer area extending 30 nautical miles and a tighter 10-nautical-mile zone. Palm Beach’s alert says a closure will begin at 5 a.m. ET Friday on South Ocean Boulevard, between South County Road and Southern Boulevard; it gives no reopening time.
NORAD reported an F-16 interception Saturday after a plane entered restricted airspace near Palm Beach, an incident described in EconoTimes’ earlier coverage.
