Armed man arrested at Trump’s golf course two days before his fundraiser had a modified AR rifle, body armor and ‘concerning’ notebooks at home.
A heavily armed California man has been arrested at Donald Trump’s golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes, two days before the president was scheduled to host a major Republican fundraising event there.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, was detained on Sunday by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies after being spotted wandering the Trump National Golf Course, taking photographs and appearing to monitor security preparations ahead of Tuesday’s Republican National Committee dinner.
When deputies searched him they found a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in his pocket. A search of his car revealed a loaded pistol and additional ammunition.
Taele was already under investigation
The following day investigators executed a search warrant at Taele’s home in nearby Downey. What they found significantly raised the level of concern.
Inside the residence they recovered an illegally modified AR-style rifle, body armor, multiple high-capacity magazines, extensive rounds of ammunition and notebooks containing what officials described as “concerning statements.”
Taele was also already under investigation by El Segundo Police in connection with a separate robbery case.
He was charged with possession of a short-barreled rifle, receiving a large-capacity magazine, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and second-degree robbery. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was held on $250,000 bail. A judge also issued a protective order barring him from possessing firearms or approaching the golf course.
A pattern of security incidents
The arrest is the latest in a string of security incidents surrounding Trump since he returned to the presidency.
In July 2024 he was shot in the ear at a Pennsylvania rally and in September 2024 a gunman was arrested at his Florida golf course after a weapon was discovered in nearby bushes, with the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, later sentenced to life in prison.
In February 2026 a man armed with a shotgun and gas can was shot dead after crashing the security perimeter at Mar-a-Lago. And in April 2026 an armed intruder fired shots at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, prompting an emergency evacuation of the president.
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