Trump Golfs Under Missile Defense Shield Amid Heightened Assassination Threat Concerns

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was recently photographed golfing at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, while being protected by a U.S. Army Avenger short-range air defense system. The military vehicle, mounted on a Humvee, was positioned nearby, underscoring heightened security concerns surrounding the former president.

This visible deployment of advanced air defense weaponry comes amid increasing reports of assassination threats against Trump. Intelligence shared by Israel with the U.S. reportedly warned of Iran's potential to use man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) against Trump's private jet. Trump himself has acknowledged the constant threats, stating, "The threat to my life is always there, and I am Iran's number one target."

The security measures were evident in a video released by the White House on August 1, showing the Avenger system during a previous visit by Trump to the same golf course. In the video, Trump joked to soldiers about not worrying about missiles and drones, to which a lieutenant colonel responded by pointing to the Avenger system, saying, "We'll take care of it."

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We'll take care of it.

Further underscoring the security environment, two civilian aircraft violated a temporary flight restriction zone over the golf course on the same day, prompting the scramble of two F-16 fighter jets by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Additionally, reports from July indicated Trump secretly used a military transport plane instead of his private jet during a visit to Turkey due to concerns over Iranian threats.

These security measures are in response to a pattern of threats and incidents, including an assassination attempt in July where a bullet grazed Trump's head during a campaign rally. In April, a man armed with a gun was arrested after attempting to breach security at a dinner event for White House correspondents. More recently, on August 2, a man carrying a firearm was arrested at a Los Angeles golf course shortly before Trump's scheduled arrival.

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The threat to my life is always there, and I am Iran's number one target.