An armed man was arrested at a California golf course after allegedly conducting surveillance of security preparations just days before President Donald Trump was scheduled to visit the state, according to the Department of Justice.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bilal Essayli announced that 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele was taken into custody Sunday at Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Authorities charged Taele with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, according to the DOJ.
Essayli said investigators observed Taele taking photographs and recording video of security-planning activities in advance of the president’s trip to the West Coast, where Trump was expected to promote his economic agenda.
According to authorities, deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also found ammunition in Taele’s possession during the investigation. Officials further reported discovering a loaded pistol inside his vehicle, complete with a round chambered and a loaded magazine.
Taele appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to four charges. Three of those charges stem from the weapons-related allegations connected to his arrest at the golf course, while the fourth is a robbery charge tied to an incident that allegedly occurred in November 2025, according to authorities.
Federal officials emphasized that the investigation remains active and that law enforcement has not concluded whether Taele posed a direct threat to President Trump.
The arrest comes as concerns over the president’s security remain elevated following multiple assassination attempts in recent years.
In 2024, Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet during a summer campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Later that same year, another man was arrested after authorities said he pushed the barrel of a rifle through hedges surrounding Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
More recently, another armed suspect allegedly attempted to target the president during the first White House Correspondents’ Association dinner held in April.
The latest arrest unfolded just before Trump’s scheduled appearances in California as part of a broader effort to promote his policy agenda ahead of the November midterm elections.
On Tuesday, the president attended fundraising events hosted by the Republican National Committee at his golf club in Los Angeles. The events were part of his continued outreach as he works to build support for his economic message.
Trump is also scheduled to travel to Las Vegas on Wednesday, where he plans to highlight key elements of his legislative agenda. Among the issues expected to be featured are tax cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Act, which the president has promoted as a cornerstone of his economic platform leading into the midterm campaign season.
As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding Taele’s arrest, federal authorities have not released additional details regarding his motives or whether any further charges could be filed. Officials have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing as they continue reviewing the evidence collected during the arrest and determining whether the suspect’s actions were connected in any way to the president’s planned visit.
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