FBI Director Kash Patel said the Secret Service discovered an elevated hunting stand with a direct view of President Donald Trump’s arrival area at Palm Beach International Airport. He said the Bureau is leading the probe.

The find happened during advance security checks. Agents were preparing for the president’s return to West Palm Beach.

“USSS spotted a suspicious stand near the AF1 zone in Palm Beach,” — Kash Patel.

“The FBI is investigating,” — Kash Patel.

Patel also provided a statement to Fox News. He described the structure and its dangerous vantage point.

The Secret Service “discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand” within sight of the president exiting Air Force One, — Kash Patel.

He added that no one was found nearby during the sweep.

Patel said “no individuals were located at the scene,” — Kash Patel.

He later explained that federal investigators took charge after the initial discovery. The command handoff followed standard protocol.

“Prior to the President’s return to West Palm Beach, USSS discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone,” — Kash Patel.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation “has since taken the investigatory lead,” — Kash Patel.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the stand turned up during routine pre-arrival checks. He stressed layered defenses around the president.

Agents found the stand while conducting “advance security preparations,” — Anthony Guglielmi.

“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,” — Anthony Guglielmi.

The location matters. The stand reportedly faced the path where the president disembarks. That line of sight has proven deadly before.

In Butler, Pennsylvania, a rooftop shooter opened fire at a rally. The gunman had an unobstructed view of the stage.

Trump later described his injury after that attack.

He had been “shot with a bullet that pierced” his upper right ear, — President Donald Trump.

Two months after Butler, agents stopped a second attack in Florida. A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel near Trump’s golf course.

The barrel was seen “sticking out of the bushes,” — Court Evidence Summary (as reported).

The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was found guilty last month of attempting to assassinate the president. That case highlighted how fast detection prevents tragedy.

Sunday’s discovery raised familiar alarms. Even an unattended platform can offer elevation, concealment, and aim. It can also mask surveillance, not just gunfire.

The FBI will now map the site and timeline. They will check prints, tool marks, and digital traces. They will canvas nearby cameras and flight-path observers.

Investigators will ask key questions. Who built the stand? When was it assembled? Did anyone scout arrivals?

They will compare the vantage point with recent schedules. They will study whether the height aligns with known ballistic ranges.

The Secret Service will likely adjust perimeter standoffs. They may clear more land, add counter-sniper overwatch, and tighten outer rings.

The protection mission runs on redundancy. Every layer buys seconds. Seconds save lives.

Patel’s rapid public update signaled urgency and confidence. He wanted the public to know the find, not the tradecraft.

His message echoed a broader theme. Threats remain real, but the shield is thicker.

The president continues traveling despite risk. He returns often to South Florida. That pattern keeps the security posture high.

The latest incident reinforces one lesson. Visibility equals vulnerability. Elevation plus intent can become catastrophe.

Federal teams will treat the platform as evidence. The stand itself may tell a story. Wood, fasteners, and soil can point to a builder.

Neighbors may recall unusual traffic near the airport perimeter. Hunters or maintenance crews could have seen lights at odd hours.

The next arrival will see tighter zones and more eyes. That is how the system learns. That is how it adapts after every scare.