A man arrested at Trump golf course near Los Angeles set to appear in court on weapons charge

Updated: 12:50 PM CDT Aug 5, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ

A California man who was arrested at President Donald Trump's Los Angeles-area golf course while pretending to be part of the security detail preparing for Trump's visit is due in court Wednesday on a federal weapons charge.

Jeanine John Taele, 38, was arrested Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, two days before Trump visited for a fundraising dinner.


Taele was first seen on the property Friday, walking throughout the course wearing an earpiece and taking photos and videos of federal agents' activities as they conducted a security assessment, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Taele drove away but then returned to the course Sunday. He approached federal agents and said he was employed by the State Department and was there for a security detail. Taele said he had a loaded weapon in his vehicle and was arrested after it was searched, according to federal officials. Authorities also found a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket.

Taele was scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, pending his transfer from state to federal custody, said a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office. He already appeared in court on state weapons charges.

Taele is charged federally with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle that was found at this home, authorities said. The complaint alleges the firearm is an illegally modified AR-style rifle with a barrel that was cut down to 10 inches from 14 inches.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said a search of his pickup truck in the club parking lot turned up a loaded 9mm pistol, binoculars and a badge that read  security protection agent,  according to federal prosecutors.

Law enforcement searched his home in the nearby city of Downey on Monday and found a rifle and other firearms, magazines and ammunition, body armor and notebooks with  concerning statements,  federal authorities said. No details a

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