AP: Secret Service already runs a drone port yards from Trump's planned ballroom one
An AP investigation finds the Secret Service's own surveillance drone station has quietly operated next to the White House, undercutting Trump's stated rationale for a rooftop drone port.
What to know
- AP found the Secret Service already operates a surveillance drone port on a Treasury building next to the White House, previously unreported.
- This undercuts part of Trump's legal justification that the ballroom's drone port is needed to defend against aerial attacks — a rationale he also cites for a planned Arlington National Cemetery arch.
- The White House has not disclosed what kinds of drones would actually be used in the ballroom port or for what tactical purpose beyond AI-generated images filed in a Supreme Court appeal.
- Drone industry experts say Trump's depicted rows of missile-bearing attack drones are unrealistic compared to the smaller, unarmed surveillance drones already in use nearby.
“The drone takes off and does some type of perimeter sweep or whatever, and then puts itself back in the box.”
Matt Sloane, Co-founder, SkyfireAI · Associated Press (via Boston Globe) ↗ · Sep 22
Donald Trump U.S. PresidentMatt Sloane Co-founder, SkyfireAIU.S. Secret Service Federal protective agencyWhite House Military Office Military liaison for presidential security
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Drone industry expert calls Trump's attack-drone vision outlandish
Matt Sloane, co-founder of drone software firm SkyfireAI, said Trump's depicted rows of missile-bearing attack drones go beyond what would actually be needed, and that a simpler perimeter-sweep drone like the Secret Service's would be more realistic.
“To be honest, if a drone was so close to the White House that it needed interdiction, it’s already gotten too far…”
— Matt Sloane -
first by ABC News, 20h ago · also Mercury News, Baltimore Sun, Washington Times, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Associated Press
2 more headlines
- Trump says his ballroom will house a drone port. The Secret Service already has one next door Mercury News · 13h ago
- Trump's Touting a Ballroom Drone Port — But There's Already One Next Door Associated Press · 12h ago
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Secret Service already has a drone port next to the bunker-ballroom with no bathrooms.
2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
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Secret Service drone port revelation could undercut Trump’s claims ballroom is needed | The Independent https://www. independent.co.uk/news/world/a mericas/us-politics/trump-white-house-ballroom-secret-service-drone-port-b3055288.html
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From AP: Trump's ballroom will have a drone port. The Secret Service already has one nearby https://www. youtube.com/shorts/cx-ShlfwfsI ?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon * VSN-GDPM c1996 # news # SupportIndependentMedia # vsn
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background
Report says finding could undercut Trump's 'aerial attack' justification — AP notes the existence of the Secret Service's surveillance drones could undermine Trump's legal claim that the ballroom's drone port is necessary 'to protect the White House and surrounding region from aerial attacks,' a rationale he is also citing for a planned arch at Arlington National Cemetery.
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background
AP reveals Secret Service already runs a drone port next to the White House — AP reports that a Secret Service drone port on an adjacent Treasury Department building, using cameras and sensors in weatherproof boxes for a 'drone as first responder' surveillance model, has been quietly operational and was not previously reported.
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background
Trump says drone port plans expanded at military's request — Speaking to reporters in May, Trump said the ballroom's drone port plans were expanded because military officials wanted more drone capacity, and later said on social media it could be the 'most sophisticated' such port in the world.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by Independent UK, 10h ago · also The Independent
and 1 smaller piece