A U.S. Marine veteran is facing charges related to suspicious behavior and alleged firearm possession at the Trump National Golf Course in Southern California.
Authorities claim that over the last few days, 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele twice roamed the golf course grounds in advance of a Trump presidential visit, wearing a radio earpiece, taking photos of Secret Service agents, and carrying a round of ammunition in his pocket.
Taele was arrested Sunday and faces a preliminary federal charge of possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office and reviewed by Military.com, Taele, a veteran with tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, also faces state-level charges of receiving a large-capacity magazine, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a short-barreled rifle and robbery.
A background check during his arrest also revealed Taele had a warrant out of El Segundo for an alleged strong-armed robbery on Nov. 4, 2025. Authorities said that police department had been looking for Taele in connection with the crime.
The FBI, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Secret Service are continuing to investigate Taele in the Trump golf course case.
“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the president’s visit,” First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing.”
Federal Authorities Detail Suspicious Behavior
On Friday, according to the affidavit, federal agents noticed a suspicious individual who was later identified as Taele, walking around the exclusive ocean side golf club grounds in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Court documents show that Taele allegedly drove to the golf course in a Toyota Tundra outfitted with a license plate that was not registered to the vehicle and was considered out of use since 2022.
Authorities said he returned to the golf course on Sunday, where L.A. County sheriff’s deputies detained him after he told federal agents there that he was a U.S. State Department employee on site for security detail.
A search of Taele’s truck revealed a loaded 9mm pistol with hollow-point rounds, binoculars, and a badge that read “security protection agent,” according to the affidavit.
Sheriff’s detectives and FBI agents also searched Taele’s home on Monday and allegedly found a stash of weapons, including an illegally modified AR-style rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, body armor, high-capacity magazines and bulk pistol ammunition.
The affidavit said detectives found notebooks containing “concerning statements” and two radio signal devices. There was also another badge found with gold or brass coloring that read “Fugitive Recovery Bail Enforcement.”
“Mr. Taele’s troubling behavior at the President’s public golf course merely days before the President was expected to arrive, raised serious red flags for law enforcement and led to the discovery of an unregistered firearm, a loaded weapon, as well as additional items of concern,” Patrick Grandy, the sssistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, said in a statement. “There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life.”
Authorities said state records show that Taele is a licensed security guard through 2028 and was permitted to carry a firearm while working as a guard until 2025. He was allowed to carry a 9mm and .40 caliber handgun. His gun permit was canceled when he was suspended for not qualifying.
Heightened Concern For Trump After Previous Incidents
Taele’s motives remain unclear. But the case is generating close attention given earlier attempts on Trump’s life—one in 2024 in Butler, Pa., and another on Trump’s golf course in Florida weeks later.
The White House Correspondent’s Dinner earlier this year was also promptly shut down and evacuated after an assailant was able to breach security.
“This case is a strong example of the important work our agents do to keep the individuals we protect and our protected sites safe, starting well before each and every visit,” Armando Marquez, special agent in charge of the United States Secret Service’s Los Angeles Field Office, said in a statement. “Since the moment our agents became aware of this individual, they’ve worked tirelessly with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and our federal partners to investigate this case.”
Federal investigators are digging into Taele’s history, including whether he had any ties to extremist groups.
President Trump was in Southern California for a visit Tuesday to attend a GOP fundraiser in Los Angeles. Tuesday’s fundraiser marked Trump’s second trip to L.A. since returning to office, with the first taking place in January 2025 when he toured the fire-ravaged areas of Pacific Palisades.
He left Los Angeles without incident Tuesday night. Military.com reached out to the White House for comment.
Federal authorities said Taele was a Marine who reached the rank of corporal while serving at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. He served from March 2008 to March 2016 and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning multiple medals for serving in those campaigns.
His military occupational specialty was warehouse clerk, and his final assignment was with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Pendleton. He deployed to Iraq from October 2008 to March 2009, and to Afghanistan from June 2010 to December 2010.
“Currently, investigators have identified no credible threat to our communities,” a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department read. “However, this case underscores the importance of vigilance, strong partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and the proactive steps taken to identify and investigate suspicious activity before it can escalate.”
Taele had been scheduled to appear at a bond hearing in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon, but the hearing was abruptly canceled for unknown reasons. No new date was set.
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