Two Avenger air defense systems deployed near Trump's Florida residence

Two "Avenger" air defense systems have been deployed near US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. They sit on a floating platform next to the property. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the move responds to warnings from the US Secret Service, which protects senior officials, about a heightened threat level.

A service spokesperson said the agency is operating in a heightened threat environment and continually adjusting its protective measures with the latest tools, technology and methods.

What is known about the systems

The Avengers carry short-range missiles and are mounted on Humvee military vehicles. They are designed to intercept aerial threats, including low-flying aircraft. Similar systems were spotted in August while Trump played golf at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey. At that time, The War Zone also drew attention to an AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air defense radar.

Airspace restrictions and threat assessment

At the Secret Service's request, the airspace over Mar-a-Lago is closed while Trump is there. The agency is also seeking a permanent flight ban, citing adverse intelligence about possible threats, including terrorism, according to federal court documents.

Earlier this year, the service warned that threats against the people it protects had risen 40% compared with the same period a year earlier. Deputy Director Matthew Quinn wrote in a court filing that air threats at Mar-a-Lago are constant and significant and must be minimized whether or not the president is present. One of the main reasons is reportedly the US conflict with Iran. Trump has also survived several assassination attempts in recent years, carried out by US citizens.

Officials previously reported that since the start of Trump's second term, dozens of aircraft have been intercepted around West Palm Beach for violating temporary flight restrictions; most were small single-engine planes whose pilots were unaware of the restrictions.

Cancelled events

Earlier this week, Trump cancelled planned campaign events in Iowa and Kansas, choosing to speak remotely. Vice President JD Vance abruptly dropped a scheduled press conference in Minnesota. The Secret Service did not say whether the decisions were linked to the threat level, and the White House made no comment. According to a Telegraph source, Trump will nevertheless visit Iowa and Kansas on Sunday.