An F-16 fighter jet was scrambled to New Jersey to intercept a plane that was violating the airspace above President Donald Trump’s golf club.
The notoriously tight security provided to American presidents at all times was on full display over the weekend.
Military assets were deployed in response to an incident that could have potentially posed a threat to the commander-in-chief.
As Reuters reports, a fighter jet was scrambled on Saturday to intercept a general aviation plane that ventured into protected airspace over Trump’s Bedminster golf club.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled the jet in response to the presence of the unauthorized civilian aircraft in restricted airspace over the property where the president was spending the remainder of his holiday weekend.
As Fox News noted, the aircraft at issue entered the restricted zone at around 2:40 p.m., triggering the swift response.
A so-called “headbutt” maneuver was used by the fighter jet to gain the civilian pilot’s attention.
The offending aircraft was then escorted away from the vicinity of the golf club.
The incident at issue was the fourth violation of airspace restrictions to occur on Saturday.
Unfortunately, however, it wasn’t even the last.
There was a total of five racked up over the course of the day.
According to Reuters, the White House did not offer any immediate comment on the situation.
In response to the situation, NORAD reminded civilian pilots to “verify all Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) and Fly Informed before making any flight.”
Officials reminded aviators of the availability of updated information about applicable restrictions at the FFA’s official website.
The agency reiterated its use of “a layered defense network of radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft to identify and respond to potential threats.”
In the agency’s own words:
“The identification and monitoring of the civilian aircraft demonstrates how NORAD executes its aerospace warning and control missions for the United States and Canada.”
An X post from the military wing responsible for thwarting such breaches reminded aviators:
“These TFRs are in place for a reason. No excuses!
“Stay sharp, stay legal, and stay out of restricted airspace.”
While every president must receive the most vigilant and comprehensive protection available, in Trump’s case, the presence of very real threats has been made crystal clear over the past year.
Not only has Trump survived two assassination attempts over the past year, but he is also the subject of a new fatwa issued by Iran’s top Shiite cleric.
As Slay News reported, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, one of the Islamic Republic’s most influential clerics, declared that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are “warlords” and “moharebs,” or enemies of God, under Islamic law.
In Iran, that designation carries the gravest punishments imaginable: execution, crucifixion, amputation, or exile.
Shirazi called on “Muslims of the world” to bring about the president’s death, making his protection more critical than ever.
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