United States Secret Service agents shot a man who breached the inner perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s private residence, on Sunday.
According to the US Secret Service, the man, believed to be in his 20s, was confronted by agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office around 1:30 a.m. local time. Shots were fired during the encounter.
The suspect’s identity has not yet been released, and officials confirmed that none of the Secret Service’s protectees were present at the estate at the time. President Trump is spending the weekend at the White House, according to his public schedule.
“When security went to investigate, they found a white male carrying a petrol can and a shotgun,” Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters. “He was ordered to drop them. He dropped the can and raised the shotgun to a firing position. At that point, agents fired their weapons to neutralise the threat.”
Bradshaw added that the suspect was “just inside the inner perimeter” of the property and that all officers involved were wearing body cameras. He could not confirm how many shots were fired or whether the suspect’s gun was loaded.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spokesman Brett Skiles confirmed the area was under Secret Service protection and said agents were collecting evidence.
“We’re asking anyone nearby to check their exterior security cameras for anything unusual and contact the West Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office if they spot anything out of place,” Skiles said.
Special Agent Rafael Barros of the Secret Service said two special agents were involved in the shooting.
“Preliminary information shows the individual had a petrol canister,” Barros said, adding that no law enforcement officer was injured. “The president was not in Florida at the time.”
The motive of the suspect remains unclear, but this is not the first armed security breach targeting Trump.
Recall that in September 2024, agents intercepted Ryan Routh near Trump International Golf Club after spotting a rifle sticking out of bushes. Routh was later convicted of attempting to assassinate Trump and sentenced to life in prison in February 2026.
Earlier, in July 2024, a would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire on Trump during a rally in Butler, injuring the president in the ear. One spectator was killed, and two others were seriously wounded before Crooks was fatally shot by agents.
The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that he had spoken with Trump and confirmed he and his family were safe.
“They shouldn’t have to endure attempt after attempt,” Bessent said. “The security perimeter around the president is as strong as it’s ever been, and the Secret Service are much better now than they were at the time of the assassination attempt in Butler.”
Bessent also blamed “political violence from the left” for fueling attacks.
“This existential threat, this venom from the left really has to stop. They’ve normalised this violence,” he said.
Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the latest incident.
Known as the “Winter White House,” Mar-a-Lago is Trump’s Florida residence, a sprawling, Spanish-style mansion built in 1927. Trump purchased it in 1985 for $10 million, and it now doubles as an exclusive private members’ club, hosting world leaders, celebrities, and business figures.
