The White House confirmed on 10/8 images released the previous day, showing former President Donald Trump swinging a golf club during the LIV Golf Bedminster final in New Jersey. Behind him were barbed wire fencing and an AN/TWQ-1 avenger short-range air defense missile system.

A wider-angle video revealed the avenger air defense system and an AN/MPQ-64 sentinel surveillance radar at the golf course, with several US soldiers operating the systems nearby. Another photo captured an avenger launcher in the area, though it was unclear if it belonged to the same system.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) also deployed F-16 fighter jets on 9/8 to intercept two civilian aircraft that violated restricted airspace over Bedminster while Mr. Trump was present. "The civilian aircraft were safely escorted from the area", NORAD stated. The agency advised pilots to immediately switch to regulated frequencies when approached by fighter jets, turn around, and monitor aviation notices before each flight.

The US military declined to provide information on how many times the avenger system had been deployed to the golf course to protect Mr. Trump.

Avenger air defense launcher at a golf course in New Jersey on 9/8. Photo: X/Popular Front

The AN/TWQ-1 avenger air defense system uses a Humvee multipurpose vehicle chassis. It is equipped with 4 or 8 FIM-92 stinger shoulder-fired air defense missiles, offering a maximum range of 8 km, along with a 12,7 mm machine gun. The avenger can counter cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters.

NORAD positioned at least one avenger launcher on a rooftop near the White House after the 11/9/2001 terrorist attacks to assist the Secret Service in protecting the US President.

Security concerns for Mr. Trump heightened following threats from Iran. After the US killed General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in 1/2020, Iran's then-supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, warned of retaliation using UAVs to attack President Trump while he was golfing.

US officials grew deeply concerned about potential Iranian retaliation against Mr. Trump since the Middle East conflict erupted. Mr. Trump had to switch presidential aircraft to return home after a NATO summit in Turkey last month. This move reportedly stemmed from US Secret Service concerns about Iran targeting the Air Force One presidential aircraft.

Nguyen Tien (According to War Zone, AFP, Reuters)