Hunter: 'Suspicious' Stand Facing Air Force One Has Been There for Years

UPDATE Nov 3, 2025 6:12 PM CST

FBI agents are investigating a "suspicious" hunting stand that it says has a direct line of sight to President Trump's Air Force One exit at Palm Beach International Airport. Reptile hunter Mike Kimmel, known as the Python Cowboy, believes they are wasting their time. He tells NBC News that the area is a prime iguana-hunting spot and that the stand has been there for years. "When we had first seen it, Joe Biden was president," Kimmel says. "And it looked old and dilapidated at the time. It never gave, like, a suspicious vibe." He says it was clearly set up by a hunter, birder, or wildlife photographer and he's not sure why the investigation is continuing. "All you got to do is talk to us," he says.

Oct 20, 2025 3:00 AM CDT

The Secret Service on Thursday found a hunting stand with a direct line of sight to President Trump's Air Force One exit at Palm Beach International Airport. The discovery, made during a routine security sweep, was confirmed by the agency and is now the subject of an FBI-led investigation, NBC News reports. Authorities said the stand was located across the street from a section of the airport where private planes—including Trump's—sometimes park. Typically, Air Force One does not use this area, but due to recent construction, it will be parked there at times. No individuals were found at the site and Trump's movements were not affected, according to the Secret Service. A source tells Fox News the stand appeared to have been placed "months ago."

Trump arrived in Florida on Friday and is spending the weekend in West Palm Beach, a frequent destination for him due to his Mar-a-Lago resort. The president has faced multiple threats over the past two years. Last July, a gunman opened fire on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania; the shooter was killed by Secret Service agents, but one attendee died and two others were wounded. In a separate incident last September, a man was arrested at a West Palm Beach golf course after allegedly plotting to kill Trump. That suspect, Ryan Routh, was convicted last month and is awaiting sentencing. Authorities have also made other arrests related to threats against Trump.