Ahead of LA County presidential visit, armed man arrested at Trump golf course
LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - Hours ahead of President Donald Trump's planned appearance at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf club, Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators today announced the weekend arrest of a man who was allegedly taking photos and videos and "appearing to monitor security-planning activities."
During his arrest on Sunday, Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, was also found to be carrying hollow-point ammunition in his pocket and a loaded weapon in his vehicle, which was parked at the Trump National Golf Club, according to the sheriff's department. A subsequent search of his home found additional weapons, body armor, high-capacity ammunition magazines and "multiple notebooks containing concerning statements,'' officials said.
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/oY3ISp8n6x
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) August 5, 2026
No details about those statements were released.
Trump is scheduled to speak at a Republican National Committee fundraiser at the golf club Tuesday night.
Taele was charged Tuesday with one felony count each of manufacturing, importing, keeping for sale, giving or receiving a large-capacity magazine; and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun; along with a felony count of second-degree robbery that allegedly occurred in November 2025. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.
Taele pleaded not guilty, with his bail set at $250,000 pending his next appearance Aug. 26 in a Torrance courtroom, according to the District Attorney's Office.
He was ordered to stay away from the golf course and to remain in California and not to possess any weapons, according to the District Attorney's Office.
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli added that Taele is expected to make his initial appearance in the United States District Court in Los Angeles soon after his transfer to federal custody.
Sheriff's deputies were called to the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes around 3:30 p.m. Sunday by federal agents who spotted a "suspicious individual" on the property, according to the sheriff's department.
The individual was observed walking throughout the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities,'' sheriff's officials said in a statement.
Deputies detained Taele and discovered he was being investigated by police in El Segundo on suspicion of robbery. While detaining Taele, deputies found a 16-round magazine containing hollow-point ammunition in a pants pocket. Deputies also searched his vehicle and found 'a loaded pistol with a round chambered, along with an additional loaded magazine containing hollow point ammunition,'' according to the sheriff's department.
Sheriff's detectives assigned to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force served a warrant Monday at Taele's home. According to the sheriff's department, investigators found:
-- an illegally modified AR platform rifle;
-- a 1911 .45-caliber pistol;
-- an AR platform upper receiver;
-- body armor;
-- high-capacity magazines;
-- bulk pistol and rifle ammunition;
-- multiple notebooks containing "concerning statements''; and
-- two radio signal devices.
It was unclear if the "concerning statements" included any threats of violence toward Trump.
"Currently, investigators have identified no credible threat to our communities,'" according to a sheriff's department statement. "However, this case underscores the importance of vigilance, strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and the proactive steps taken to identify and investigate suspicious activity before it can escalate."
Trump was expected to be the headline speaker at an RNC dinner at the Rancho Palos Verdes golf club Tuesday night. According to the White House, he is expected to make remarks on his administration's economic policies and successes in reducing crime. He is also expected to level criticism at Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential presidential candidate.
