Laser Pointer Incident Involves President Trump’s Helicopter

Thu Oct 16 2025 16:44:07 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A man has been arrested for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at Marine One during President Trump's flight, raising serious security concerns.

Jacob Samuel Winkler has been charged with a federal crime after reportedly shining a laser at Marine One while President Trump was aboard. The incident, which occurred near the White House, poses risks to the helicopter's operation and highlights ongoing security challenges. Winkler claimed he was unaware of the dangers posed by his actions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man accused of pointing a laser at Marine One while President Donald Trump was aboard has been arrested on a federal charge, as detailed in court filings released on Monday.

Jacob Samuel Winkler faces a felony charge for allegedly aiming a laser beam at the aircraft, a crime that could carry a prison sentence of up to five years. Current court records do not include personal details regarding Winkler, such as his age or location, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation.

The incident occurred when Marine One was flying over the White House on Saturday. A U.S. Secret Service officer observed Winkler on a sidewalk, acting erratically and speaking to himself. After the officer shone a flashlight at him, Winkler allegedly responded by directing a red laser at the officer's face.

As Marine One passed above, Winkler reportedly aimed the laser at the helicopter. Following his arrest, Winkler expressed a desire to apologize to the President, as stated in the officer's affidavit.

While the court documents do not specify if the helicopter crew noticed the laser, the officer indicated that Winkler's actions could potentially blind or disorient a pilot, thus increasing the risk of a collision in the airspace close to the helicopter.

In statements to investigators, Winkler claimed to use the laser on various objects, including stop signs, and claimed ignorance regarding the prohibition of pointing it at Marine One. Authorities also discovered a small knife on his person during the arrest.