Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says Iran poses a daily threat to President Trump and his family, and that the government’s ability to stop drone attacks is dangerously behind the technology.
“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 on “The Sunday Briefing.”
The comments followed reports that Israeli intelligence had flagged a potential Iranian plot involving explosive-laden drones aimed at Trump. Mullin did not confirm that specific report but said officials are tracking threats of this kind.
Mullin called countering unmanned aircraft systems his “number one issue.” He cited cartel drone activity at the southern border, gaps in technology to defeat new drone designs, and vulnerabilities at large public events.
“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,” Mullin said.
Cartels are reportedly flying commercial and modified drones over the border to surveil U.S. security personnel, map patrol routes and run smuggling corridors. Brig. Gen. Brian Filler of Joint Task Force-Southern Border told reporters the military detected 378 drone incursions along the border in the previous 30 days, a number he said is rising. Most are commercial drones with cameras used for surveillance tied to smuggling and human trafficking.
Mullin said the threat isn’t confined to the border. During the FIFA World Cup, law enforcement encountered more than 2,000 drones, confiscated 700, and made multiple arrests. Los Angeles hosts the Olympics in 2028.
He warned the same vulnerability exists at everyday American gatherings — high school football games, parades, professional sporting events.
“There are holes in our counter-UAS ability to be kinetic and bring down real threats,” Mullin said.
He said he’s coordinating with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on airspace clearance issues and has set up a dedicated counter-drone department inside DHS to close the gaps.
