Avenger and Sentinel systems visibly deployed at Bedminster
Photographs and video published over the weekend show U.S. Army Humvee-based AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air defense systems in the background while Trump attended the final round of the LIV Golf Bedminster tournament. One image shows an Avenger positioned behind concertina wire; another clip includes both an Avenger and an AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air defense radar in the frame. The White House confirmed the authenticity of the photos to the reporting outlet on Monday.
NORAD scrambled fighters after TFR violations
While the president was at Bedminster, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said F-16 Fighting Falcons intercepted two general-aviation aircraft that violated the temporary flight restriction over the area. “All general aviation aircraft were safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft,” the command stated on X. A related message from 1st AF/America’s AOC reminded pilots to check NOTAMs before every flight.
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Get a security leadWhat the Avenger is and who operates it when protecting the president
The Avengers pictured are configured to fire Stinger heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles and are described in the reporting as fast-reacting point-defense assets. The platform has been upgraded to address small unmanned aircraft systems. NORAD told the reporter that when Avenger systems are deployed to assist the Secret Service in protecting the president, they are operated by the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command; a NORAD spokesperson declined to provide further details about how often Avengers are used in this role.
The story also includes a U.S. Army photograph from Tenacious Archer 2026 showing an AN/TWQ-1 Avenger of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade engaging a target during exercises in Airai, Palau on July 31, 2026 — a visual reminder that the same model participates in both training and protective missions.
Threat context: drones, Iran, and a string of attacks and threats
The reporting frames the deployments against a backdrop of proliferating drone technology and past incidents targeting the president. It notes that first-person-view drone types and variants equipped with fiber optics are spreading globally and that Iran has been both a user and distributor of these weapons. The article recounts a sequence of recent security incidents: an arrest earlier this month of a suspect allegedly photographing security at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes while carrying a 16-round magazine and other weapons (reported by Fox News); a Sept. 15, 2024, incident at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in which a Secret Service agent fired at an armed man later identified as Ryan Wesley Routh; and a July 13, 2024, shooting at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, involving Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was later killed and left the candidate injured.
The piece also recounts that an account linked to Iran’s then-Supreme Leader posted an image on Jan. 21, 2020, suggesting a drone targeting Trump on a golf course; that account was suspended about 15 hours later. It further reports that “Khamenei himself was killed Feb. 28 during the opening night of Operation Epic Fury,” and that the launch of that operation has prompted “extreme concern” about the plausibility of a revenge attack, with corresponding changes to safety protocols.
Other protective measures observed: armored UTVs and rooftop turrets
The reporting notes that the Avenger is not the only specialized platform used to protect the president while golfing. During a previous outing in Scotland, an armored Polaris Ranger X utility task vehicle — nicknamed “Golf Force One” by press outlets — trailed Trump; a White House spokesperson at the time described the vehicle as “part of the Presidential fleet of specialty vehicles.” The article also mentions a known rooftop Avenger missile turret near the White House, installed not long after 9/11 for air defense purposes.
What this means for the Secret Service, NORAD, and local pilots
- Secret Service: Visible deployments such as Avengers and armored UTVs reflect layered measures the agency and supporting military units use to protect a high-profile principal in environments — like golf courses — where conventional perimeter security is challenging.
- NORAD and the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command: The organizations are actively integrating point-defense assets and fighter escorts in domestic protection missions; NORAD’s public account of fighter interceptions underscores its role in enforcing Temporary Flight Restrictions.
- Local pilots and general aviation: The intercepts and public advisories serve as a reminder to check NOTAMs and avoid restricted airspace, with NORAD explicitly noting that intercepted aircraft were escorted out of the area.
Photographs, a White House-confirmed video, and official NORAD statements together present a clear, if tightly described, picture: short-range missile systems and radar were deployed visibly at a presidential golf outing, accompanied by rapid air responses to TFR incursions. What remains unanswered in public statements is how frequently those ground assets are used in similar protective roles — a detail NORAD declined to provide.
https://www.twz.com/land/avenger-surface-to-air-missile-system-protected-trump-while-golfing
