The notoriously tight security provided to American presidents at all times was on full display over the weekend, with military assets deployed in response to an incident that could have potentially posed a threat to the commander in chief.
As Reuters reports, an F-16 fighter jet was scrambled on Saturday to intercept a general aviation plane that ventured into protected airspace over President Donald Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club.
As Fox News noted, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled the jet in response to the presence of the unauthorized civilian aircraft in restricted airspace over the property where the president was spending the remainder of his holiday weekend.
The aircraft at issue entered the restricted zone at around 2:40 p.m., triggering the swift response.
A so-called “headbutt” maneuver was used by the fighter jet to gain the civilian pilot’s attention before the offending aircraft was escorted away from the vicinity of the golf club.
The incident at issue was the fourth violation of airspace restrictions to occur on Saturday, but unfortunately, it wasn’t even the last, with a total of five racked up over the course of the day.
According to Reuters, the White House did not offer any immediate comment on the situation.
In response to the situation, NORAD reminded civilian pilots to “verify all Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) and Fly Informed before making any flight.”
Officials reminded aviators of the availability of updated information about applicable restrictions at https://tfr.faa.gov/.
The agency reiterated its use of “a layered defense network of radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft to identify and respond to potential threats.”
In the agency’s own words, “The identification and monitoring of the civilian aircraft demonstrates how NORAD executes its aerospace warning and control missions for the United States and Canada.”
An X post from the military wing responsible for thwarting such breaches reminded aviators, “These TFRs are in place for a reason. No excuses! Stay sharp, stay legal, and stay out of restricted airspace.”
While it is critical that every president receive the most vigilant and comprehensive protection available, in Trump’s case, the presence of very real threats has been made crystal clear over the past year.
Not only has Trump survived two assassination attempts, as of June, he is also the subject of a new fatwa issued by Iran’s top Shia cleric, who called on “Muslims of the world” to bring about the president’s death, making his protection more critical than ever.