On Sunday, October 19, 2025, former President Donald Trump boarded Air Force One using the plane’s smaller, less visible stairs at Palm Beach International Airport. This change followed the Secret Service’s discovery of a suspicious item near the airport, prompting increased security measures. The incident, reported by Fox News and other outlets, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of the 79-year-old former president, especially after two assassination attempts in the past 18 months.
Suspicious Item Sparks Investigation
The Secret Service found what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand in a tree approximately 200 yards from the area where Air Force One was parked, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. The stand had a clear line of sight to the aircraft’s landing zone, raising alarms about a potential security threat. The discovery was made on Friday, October 17, 2025, during advance security preparations before Trump’s arrival in Palm Beach for a golfing weekend at his private resort.
The FBI has taken over the investigation, deploying evidence collection teams and cell phone analytics to determine who built or used the structure and whether it was linked to any specific threat. Patel noted that no individuals were found at the scene, and no ammunition or explosives were discovered. However, the presence of the stand led to an immediate review of airport security protocols, as reported by local media.
Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi emphasized the importance of their layered security measures, stating, “During advance security preparations prior to the Palm Beach arrival, which included the use of technology and comprehensive physical sweeps, our teams identified items of interest near Palm Beach International Airport.” He added that the incident did not disrupt any movements and no individuals were involved at the location.
Why the Smaller Stairs?
Typically, presidents use the taller, more visible stairs to board Air Force One, often seen in media footage. However, Trump opted for the shorter, sturdier rear stairs, which provide access from the belly of the plane and are less exposed to public view. A White House official told Fox News that this decision was due to “increased security measures” following the discovery. This tactic has been used before; for example, President Joe Biden began using the smaller stairs in 2023 after stumbling on the taller ones, citing factors like weather, security, and staircase availability.
Trump returned to using the taller stairs when he landed back in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, according to Fox News footage. This shift suggests the heightened security was specific to the situation in Palm Beach, where construction at the airport had forced Air Force One to park closer to an area used by private planes, potentially within view of the suspicious stand.
Context of Recent Threats
The discovery comes in the wake of two assassination attempts on Trump in the past 18 months, heightening concerns about his safety. In September 2024, Ryan Routh was convicted on multiple charges, including attempted assassination, after targeting Trump at his Florida golf course. In July 2024, Trump survived an attack by 20-year-old Michael Thomas Crooks during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Eric Trump, the former president’s son, praised the Secret Service’s vigilance on X, highlighting their role in identifying the potential threat. The ongoing FBI investigation has yet to link the hunting stand to any individual, and authorities have not announced any arrests.
