US President Donald Trump brushed off the arrest of a man accused of carrying a concealed firearm and ammunition in Los Angeles from a Golf Course the president was set to visit on Tuesday.
Reacting to the incident, the President said the security scare indicated that he was a “president who matters”
“The only thing I get a little solace from is they say only consequential presidents, and I am definitely consequential,” Trump told Fox News on Tuesday during an interview.
Authorities said that a man, Jeanine John Taele, 38, armed with a pistol, was arrested after he was reportedly seen taking photos and videos of the the Trump National Golf Club grounds in Los Angeles County over the weekend. Taele’s vehicle was located in the golf club's parking lot, ABC News reported.
After Taele was arrested, detectives found that he possessed more firearms and multiple notebooks containing concerning statements at the suspect's residence. A 16-round magazine containing hollow-point ammunition was found in his pants pocket, as well as a loaded pistol with a round chambered and an additional loaded magazine containing hollow-point ammunition from his vehicle,
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the golf club incident occurred on Sunday.
A day before it was announced that the president was going to visit the Rancho Palos Verdes property this week for a Republican National Committee dinner.
Deputies said Teale was seen "appearing to monitor security-planning activities."
Taele was charged with second-degree robbery, receiving a large-capacity magazine and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun. He was also charged with carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.
Taele pleaded not guilty and was ordered to stay away from the golf court and not possess weapons. His bail was set at $250,000.
He was also already being investigated by the Segundo Police Department for robbery.
