US President Donald Trump’s golf outings have taken on an unusual security dimension, with a missile-equipped air defence system deployed near his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The US Army’s Avenger Air Defence System was spotted near the golf course while Trump was playing earlier this month, adding a highly visible layer of protection around the president during his visit.
Mounted on a military Humvee, the Avenger is designed for short-range air defence and can fire Stinger missiles against threats including drones, helicopters, low-flying aircraft and cruise missiles.
In a video recorded on Aug 1, Trump was seen speaking with military personnel while the air defence system stood behind them.
Joking about the security measures, Trump said he was “not worried about missiles or drones”, prompting a military officer to point towards the system and respond that they had the situation under control.
The heightened security also extended to the airspace surrounding the Bedminster property. Two civilian aircraft entered a temporary restricted flight zone while Trump was at the golf club, prompting F-16 fighter jets under the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to be deployed.
The aircraft were intercepted and safely escorted out of the restricted area.
The Avenger system is equipped with a turret capable of rotating 360 degrees, allowing it to respond rapidly to aerial threats approaching from different directions.
The deployment highlights the extensive security measures surrounding the US president, turning what would normally be a routine recreational outing into an event protected by military air defence assets and strict airspace controls.
