Donald Trump was escorted by Secret Service agents carrying what appeared to be a drone jammer as fears around the President’s safety soar. In a recent video of Mr Trump exiting Air Force One at an air base, a large security presence was captured that travels with him and escorts him.
A Secret Service agent behind him can be seen carrying what appears to be a little black box as other agents follow in cars and snipers stand guard on a roof. According to reports, the device is a handheld anti-drone jammer, used to disrupt drone controls, navigation, and video feeds via electronic jamming for protection on the tarmac.
The Secret Service uses drone jammers and other counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) to protect secure areas, such as during campaign rallies, the White House, and special events.
As an agency under the Department of Homeland Security, they are authorised to detect and mitigate unauthorised drones using signal jamming.
The July 2024 incident highlighted vulnerabilities in the service’s anti-drone capabilities, he said.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin, flew a drone for about 11 minutes around the site in Pennsylvania, showing the scene behind his eventual firing position.
The FBI had also discovered that Crooks flew a drone near the rally two hours before the assassination attempt.
According to The New York Times, the Secret Service rejected offers to use a drone to support their surveillance at the rally site.
Thames Valley Police said there were “significant airspace restrictions” around Windsor Castle, which were enforced with the help of the National Police Air Service during the state visit.
