DHS chief Mullin says Iran poses daily threat to Trump and his family amid drone concerns
Mullin pressed on FAA ground stop, Iran threats targeting Trump
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin joins 'The Sunday Briefing' to discuss the agency's efforts to combat hostile drone technology and Iranian threats targeting President Donald Trump and top administration officials. Mullin also addresses the massive FAA flight ground stop, pushing back on rumors of a cyberattack.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Markwayne Mullin warned that President Donald Trump and his family remain top targets of threats from Iran, saying on "The Sunday Briefing" that officials receive intelligence about potential threats daily as concerns grow over the use of drones.
"Well, every single day during our presidential briefings, we receive aspirational threats from Iran. We know that President Trump — and his family — is target number one," Mullin said.
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said President Donald Trump and his family are Iran's top targets. (REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon)
Mullin's remarks came amid questions about a report alleging Israeli intelligence had identified a potential Iranian plot involving explosive-laden drones targeting Trump. While he did not confirm the specific report, Mullin said officials were aware of threats.
Mullin also called countering unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) his "number one issue," citing increasingly sophisticated drone technology, cartel activity along the southern border and vulnerabilities at major public gatherings.
US MILITARY TOOK DOWN APPROXIMATELY 100 SUSPECTED CARTEL DRONES AT SOUTHERN BORDER IN AUGUST
"Our counter-UAS measures need help, and DHS is leading that, because we encounter more drones on our southern border because of the cartels and the fight we're having with them every single day trying to get drugs into the United States. And we're seeing new technologies that we're having a hard time defeating right now," he continued.
A new law allows law enforcement in Arizona to shoot down drones suspected of participating in criminal activity along the U.S.-Mexico border. (iStock)
Mexican cartels are reported to be using commercial and modified drones to watch U.S. security personnel, map patrol routines and support smuggling corridors along the southern border as authorities expand efforts to disable the aircraft.
The U.S. military detected 378 drone incursions along the border during the previous 30 days, Brig. Gen. Brian Filler of Joint Task Force-Southern Border told reporters. He said the trend was increasing, and the aircraft were typically commercial drones with cameras used for surveillance tied to smuggling and human trafficking.
Mullin said drone threats extend well beyond the southern border, pointing to security concerns at major sporting events and other large gatherings.
During the FIFA World Cup, for instance, Mullin said law enforcement encountered more than 2,000 drones, confiscated 700 and made multiple arrests. He noted that Los Angeles will host the Olympics in 2028.
But the DHS secretary warned that drone security is also needed at everyday gatherings, including high school football games, parades and professional sporting events.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"There are holes in our counter-UAS ability to be kinetic and bring down real threats," Mullin said, adding that he was coordinating with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on the matter due to issues of airspace clearance.
Mullin said he has established a dedicated counter-drone department within DHS as the agency works to address gaps in its ability to neutralize potential threats.
Fox News Digital's Armando Regil Velasco contributed to this report.
Max Bacall is an associate editor for Fox News Digital covering media, culture and comedy.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.