A robot dog was pictured at President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, after he fell victim to multiple assassination attempt plots during this year's election cycle.
The remote-controlled dog, labeled with the United States Secret Service acronym (USSS), was photographed patrolling Trump's estate on Friday.
The Secret Service confirmed to Newsweek via email on Saturday afternoon that the robot dogs guarding Trump are their assets.
"Safeguarding the President-elect is a top priority," Anthony Guglielmi, the U.S. Secret Service's chief of communications, said. "While we cannot get into the specific capabilities, the robotic dogs are equipped with surveillance technology, and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations."
The added security comes after Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in Tuesday's presidential election, following a campaign season full of danger for the president-elect.
Newsweek reached out to Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, for comment Saturday afternoon.
Past Trump Assassination Attempts
On July 13, Trump was struck by a bullet that pierced his right ear at an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired rounds off a nearby roof. Crooks was then killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
About two months later, Trump was the victim of a second assassination attempt while golfing.
Ryan Routh was arrested on September 15 after being found with a firearm at Trump International Golf Club. Routh never fired the gun at Trump, but Secret Service agents fired at him as he pointed his rifle toward the West Palm Beach golf course in Florida.
Routh was indicted days later on charges of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He could face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
Iranian Plot to Kill Trump Thwarted
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against a man Iran tasked with surveilling and plotting to kill Trump before the presidential election.
Farhad Shakeri, a 51-year-old residing in Tehran, Iran, told law enforcement that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—a paramilitary that the U.S. deems a terrorist organization—tasked him on October 7 with "providing a plan to kill" Trump, according to a press release issued by the DOJ on Friday.
"Shakeri claimed he did not intend to propose a plan to kill Trump within the timeframe set by the IRGC," the release read.
The information regarding the IRGC tasking Shakeri with an assassination plot against Trump was part of a broader job from Iran's paramilitary for Shakeri to carry out assassinations against U.S. and Israeli citizens in America, according to the DOJ.
The charges filed against Shakeri were in connection with a separate plot to murder a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin in New York who has publicly opposed the Iranian government.
Shakeri was charged with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, money laundering conspiracy, conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Government of Iran.
Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, told Newsweek via email Friday, "President-Elect Trump is aware of the attempted assassination plot by the Iranian terrorist regime. Nothing will deter President Trump from returning to the White House and restoring peace around the world."
In response to previous allegations of an Iran-linked assassination plot against Trump uncovered by media reports in July, the Iranian Mission told Newsweek "these accusations are unsubstantiated and malicious."
"From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trump is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law for ordering the assassination of General Soleimani," the Iranian Mission said. "Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice."
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