Anti-Drone Laser in Palm Beach Will Protect Trump, Mar-a-Lago

Pentagon is reportedly weighing the use of similar systems across the U.S.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, April 01, 2026 at 01:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. [Credit: White House]

Key Takeaways:

An anti-drone laser system has been installed near Palm Beach International Airport to protect President Trump, his Mar-a-Lago estate, and commercial aircraft from drone threats, responding to increased suspicious activity.
This counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) uses an invisible laser to neutralize drones and reflects a broader national effort to enhance security against escalating drone incursions over U.S. military bases and sensitive areas.
Previous military deployments of similar anti-drone lasers near El Paso led to uncoordinated airspace closures and disruptions, raising concerns about their impact on civilian aviation and coordination with federal agencies.
New federal guidance and legislation are expanding permissions and funding for federal, state, and local entities to deploy counter-drone technologies, indicating a trend toward wider adoption of these measures nationwide.

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A strange-looking installation atop a building near Palm Beach International Airport (KPBI) in Florida was revealed Tuesday to be an anti-drone laser, intended to protect President Donald Trump, his Mar-a-Lago estate, and commercial aircraft amid a rise in suspicious activity over U.S. military bases.

WPTV-TV in Palm Beach said it confirmed that the device is a counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) mechanism, though it is unclear when it was installed or whether it has been used.