Video shows Avenger air defense launchers on a barge outside Trump's Mar-a-Lago

New footage shows Humvee-mounted Avenger short-range air defense systems parked on a barge on the waterfront of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, deployed at the Secret Service's request.

Video circulating on Sunday shows U.S. Army Avenger short-range air defense systems stationed on a barge along the waterfront of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, with sensors and equipment set up on a nearby road.

The Humvee-mounted Avenger is designed to protect troops and critical sites from low-flying aircraft, drones and other aerial threats.

Requested by the Secret Service

North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command confirmed on Oct. 23 that they had placed ground-based air defense equipment at Mar-a-Lago at the request of the U.S. Secret Service. West Palm Beach station WPTV first reported the deployment, and some of the systems were also reported near a nearby airport.

The military has not disclosed the cost or duration of the mission, or whether a specific threat prompted it. Flying Magazine described the missiles as the latest layer of aerial defense meant to deter aircraft from flying over the estate, which already has an anti-drone laser.

Sensors and military equipment set up on a road near Mar-a-Lago

Dozens of airspace violations

NORAD has intercepted more than 60 aircraft that violated restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago since January 2025, most of them involving pilot error rather than deliberate threats, according to officials. A year-round temporary flight restriction already covers the president's residence, and the FAA has proposed replacing it with a stricter, permanent Special Flight Rules Area, a plan that has drawn local objections.

Trump has spent at least 655 days at his properties across both presidencies through October 2026, according to Military.com, which noted that the Bush-era protection at his Texas ranch relied on fighter jets rather than ground-based missiles.

Video shows Avenger air defense launchers on a barge outside Trump's Mar-a-Lago

New footage shows Humvee-mounted Avenger short-range air defense systems parked on a barge on the waterfront of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, deployed at the Secret Service's request.