Former President Donald Trump was seen playing golf at his club in New Jersey alongside a military defense system, sparking discussions about his security measures. In one notable photograph, Trump is holding a golf club, while in the background, an Avenger missile system is visible behind barbed wire. Reports also mention a second image of the Avenger, although it remains unclear if that is the same unit.
In addition to the Avenger, there are reportedly other protective measures in place for Trump, including electronic warfare systems, according to media sources.
On August 10, the White House confirmed the authenticity of the photographs in question. Video footage published by the media shows the Avenger system, accompanied by a radar station from the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air defense system.
Moreover, during this time, F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept civilian aircraft that entered the temporarily restricted airspace over the area. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed the deployment of these jets.
“All general aviation aircraft were safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft,” a statement via X (formerly Twitter) said.
Ukrainian publication Defence Express commented on the image featuring Trump, noting that the Avenger system is not a cutting-edge technology and has been in service since 1989, designed to engage aerial targets at a range of approximately 5 kilometers. They also suggested that the Avenger may have been deployed without its machine gun, potentially diminishing its effectiveness, as it appears the weapon had been deliberately removed while the mounting container remained under the missile launcher.
Context
- Trump has faced multiple assassination attempts in the past. In July 2024, during a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, a bullet grazed his ear.
- In September of the same year, a shooting occurred in Palm Beach, Florida, near Trump International Golf Club, where Trump was playing. The shooter was positioned between 250 and 450 meters away, as reported by CNN.
- On April 25, 2026, shots were fired during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton, where Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other high-ranking officials were present. The assailant was apprehended, and one Secret Service agent sustained injuries.
- On August 10, The Washington Post reported that due to threats against him, Trump had to leave the NATO summit in early July on a secret military flight.
