An armed man was arrested Sunday at President Donald Trump’s golf course in California, shortly before the president was set to arrive at the course for the Republican National Committee dinner.
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Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, who was arrested at Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in… pic.twitter.com/yJpopgdcnn
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) August 5, 2026
The man, Jeanine John Taele, 38, was seen walking throughout Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles on July 31 wearing an earpiece, taking photographs and filming video of security preparation measures for the fundraiser, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Two days later, on Aug. 2, Taele returned to the golf club and told federal agents he was employed by the State Department for security detail. Taele also admitted there was a loaded firearm in his car.
After contacting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, federal agents learned Taele was wanted in connection with a robbery case in El Segundo, a city about 25 miles north of the Trump Golf Club.
On Tuesday, Taele, of Downey, entered a not guilty plea to four criminal charges stemming from his arrest outside the golf course days before Trump’s planned arrival, per local media.
Taele was detained with a 16-round magazine of ammunition in his pants pockets. A later search of his pickup truck discovered a loaded 9 mm pistol, a pair of binoculars and a badge that said “security protection agent,” per the press release.
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Authorities also searched Taele’s residence on Aug. 3 and found more firearms, two radio signal devices, an earpiece and “multiple notebooks containing concerning statements.”
Taele was charged with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
“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,” said Patrick Grandy, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, according to the official release.
Grandy added that there is “no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life” and said the FBI will work with partner organizations to “investigate this case thoroughly.”
On Tuesday, a Los Angeles County judge set Taele’s bail at $250,000, ordered him not to possess any weapons, and barred him from Trump National Golf Club
His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 26, for a preliminary hearing setting and bail review, according to Fox News.
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The investigation remains ongoing.