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Man arrested at Trump golf course in RPV allegedly had earpiece, told agents he was there for ‘security detail’

August 5, 2026

A Downey man arrested by federal agents at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes over the weekend had told agents he was employed by the State Department and was at the club for security detail, federal authorities said while announcing charges against him.

Jeanine John Taele, 38, was also wearing an earpiece, took photographs and filmed videos of federal agents’ security-planning activities while at the property on July 31, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He returned two days later, on Sunday, where he was spotted by agents acting “suspicious.” Federal authorities called the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Taele allegedly admitted to having a loaded firearm in his car, which was parked in the Trump Golf Club parking lot, federal authorities said.

Inside his pickup truck, authorities found a loaded 9-millimeter pistol with a loaded magazine containing hollow-point ammunition, a pair of binoculars and a badge that read “security protection agent,” federal authorities said.

“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President’s visit,” said Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney. “Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring.”

Taele was charged Wednesday with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, which has a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, authorities said.

At the time of his arrest, Taele was under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department on suspicion of committing a robbery in November 2025, El Segundo police said.

After he was taken into custody, a search warrant served at his home Monday uncovered 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 and multiple notebooks containing “concerning statements” and two radio signal devices, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which announced the arrest on Tuesday.

It wasn’t immediately known if Taele was aware that President Donald Trump would be visiting the club on Tuesday, as the first news story about it was apparently published online at 3 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, the day after Taele’s second visit and arrest.

Orange County Register

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Man arrested at Trump golf course in RPV allegedly had earpiece, told agents he was there for ‘security detail’

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