Armed man Jeanine Taele arrested at Trump golf course near Los Angeles ahead of visit

Jeanine John Taele detained for ‘suspicious’ behavior and charged with possession of unregistered short-barreled rifleA California man who was arrested at Donald Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course ahead of a presidential visit is facing more charges, as authorities released more details about the investigation.Authorities say federal agents first observed 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele near the golf grounds in Rancho Palos Verdes on 31 July, wearing an earpiece and capturing photographs and videos of security agents assessing the property. Continue reading...

Jeanine John Taele allegedly photographed and filmed federal agents' security planning around Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palo Verdes, authorities say

Authorities in California arrested a man who was walking around the Los Angeles area Trump National Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. Jeanine John Taele, 38, first arrived at the golf course on Friday, July 31, three days before Trump was scheduled to be there. He was seen wearing an earpiece and taking pictures and video of the course while the Secret Service conducted a security assessment.Two days later, on August 2, Taele came back to the course, walked up to federal agents there, and told them he was working for State Department security. After Taele was detained by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies found a 16-round magazine with hollow-point bullets in his pants pockets and a loaded 9mm pistol in his pickup truck. A home search also revealed a modified A.R.-platform rifle, body armor, and notebooks full of “concerning statements.” “Mr. Taele’s troubling behavior at the President’s public golf course merely days before the President was expected to arrive raised serious red flags for law enforcement and led to the discovery of an unregistered firearm, a loaded weapon, as well as additional items of concern,” FBI Los Angeles Field Office assistant director Patrick Grandy said. “There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, working with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service, the ATF, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, will investigate this case thoroughly.”Taele now faces federal charges of “possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle,” a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.President Trump has yet to comment.

An armed man was arrested at a golf course in California after scoping out security days before a President Trump was set to visit the Golden State, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bilal Essayli said 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele was arrested Sunday at...

Armed Man Named 'Jeanine' Arrested At Trump's California Golf Course Ahead Of President's Visit Authored by Kimberley Hayek via The Epoch Times, A California man carrying ammunition and with a gun in his car was arrested Sunday at President Donald Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course after authorities say he was observed walking through the grounds, taking photographs as well as video, and appearing to monitor security preparations two days before a scheduled fundraiser there that will feature the president. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest Tuesday as Trump prepared to land in Los Angeles for a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner at the Trump National Golf Course. The event will take place in the coastal suburb of Rancho Palos Verdes, just south of Los Angeles. Deputies said Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey was carrying a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket when they contacted him. A loaded pistol was recovered from his car, which had been parked on the golf course’s property. He was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm and possessing prohibited ammunition. Authorities also said he had already been under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department in an unrelated robbery case from last year. Taele’s bail has been set at $250,000. He faces possible charges related to a large-capacity magazine, short-barreled rifle/shotgun, and the 2025 robbery. Detectives assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force obtained and executed a search warrant Monday at Taele’s residence, where they recovered a range of items that included firearms, magazines, ammunition, body armor and notebooks containing what the sheriff’s department called “concerning statements.” The department highlighted that there is “no credible threat to our communities.” Trump has owned the Rancho Palos Verdes property for years. The course has held political and private events in the past. Plainclothes federal agents first reported the suspicious individual on the golf course Sunday afternoon, and deputies from the Lomita Station responded. They made contact with Taele, and discovered the ammunition and the loaded firearm. The totality of the circumstances—the photography and video activity, and the weapons—led to the detention and charges. According to the sheriff’s department, agents saw Taele walking through the property apparently focused on security-related activities taking place ahead of Trump’s visit. They have yet to describe the writings in the notebooks. They also have not revealed whether Taele knew of the president’s forthcoming visit. Trump is also scheduled to stop in Nevada on the trip. Trump properties have in the past been the scene of at least one Trump assassination plot. In a separate 2025 case, a jury found a man guilty of attempting to assassinate Trump at his Florida country club. A federal judge on Feb. 4 sentenced Ryan Routh to life in prison for attempting in 2024 to assassinate Trump, who was at the time running for president. Routh was also sentenced to seven years behind bars on a gun charge and ordered to pay a $500 fine. Tyler Durden Wed, 08/05/2026 - 09:40

The suspect faces firearms-related charges, while his motives are under investigation.