Authorities arrested an armed man at President Donald Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course on Sunday after he was seen photographing the grounds and apparently monitoring security preparations two days ahead of a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner Trump is scheduled to attend.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, was taken into custody at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, a wealthy coastal enclave south of Los Angeles known for its hills and scenic cliffs. Plainclothes federal agents first flagged Taele as a suspicious person to local authorities, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s department said he had been observed walking throughout the golf course grounds, taking photographs and videos, and appearing to monitor security-planning activities. The BBC reported the arrest took place around 1530 ET on Sunday afternoon.
When deputies confronted him, they found a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in his pocket. A loaded pistol with a round chambered was recovered from his vehicle, along with a second loaded magazine. His car was parked at the golf course. California bans magazines capable of holding more than 10 bullets. Hollow point bullets flatten and widen on impact, causing maximum damage to vital organs. The state has some of the strictest gun laws in the country.
A home search turns up more weapons
On Monday, agents from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the LA County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau raided Taele’s home in Downey, another city in the Los Angeles area. The sheriff’s department said the search was conducted because of the potential security implications surrounding the incident. Inside the residence, investigators found an illegally modified AR platform rifle, a .45 pistol, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk ammunition, radio signal devices, and multiple notebooks containing what officials described only as “concerning statements.”
Taele was charged with several felonies. These included second-degree robbery, receiving a large-capacity magazine, and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle. The BBC reported he was charged with carrying a concealed firearm and possession of armor-piercing or prohibited ammunition. He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday, according to NPR. A judge ordered him to stay away from the golf course and not possess weapons. NPR reported his bail was set at $250,000, while Al Jazeera reported he was being held without bail while prosecutors weigh charges. The two outlets did not specify whether the figures reflected different points in the legal process or different categories of charges.
Authorities said Taele had already been under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department in connection with a robbery. El Segundo is about 15 miles north.
No credible threat identified
The sheriff’s department said it had not identified any credible threat to the public. Officials have not said whether Taele was seeking to harm Trump. No such charges have been filed. The investigation is continuing, with assistance from the US Secret Service, and officials say more charges may be filed later. In a news release, the sheriff’s department said the case highlights the importance of vigilance and strong partnerships among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Officials pointed to the proactive steps they had taken to identify and investigate suspicious activity before it could escalate.
The arrest occurred during a rare visit to California by the president. The White House said Trump was due to give a speech critical of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is widely considered to be planning a run for the presidency in the 2028 election. On Wednesday, Trump is traveling to Las Vegas to deliver a speech at a casino. The visits come as campaign activity intensifies ahead of the November midterm elections, when the balance of power in Congress is at stake.
Trump has survived three assassination attempts in recent years, according to the BBC. After the most recent, when a gunman stormed a hotel in Washington during a White House dinner, Trump’s security team said they would review their protocols for protecting the president. A jury in 2025 found a man guilty of trying to assassinate Trump at the president’s Florida country club, NPR reported.