President Trump was attending the LIV Golf tournament at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club on Sunday when North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was forced to scramble F-16 fighter jets after two general aviation aircraft entered temporary restricted airspace.
According to NORAD, the F-16s safely intercepted and escorted the two civilian aircraft out of the restricted zone. The temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) were in place specifically because the President of the United States was on site.
NORAD declined to speculate on whether the pilots simply ignored the rules or made a “mistake,” stating that determination is up to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The command reminded pilots that they are required to check FAA Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and temporary flight restrictions before every flight. The White House did not immediately comment on the incident.
BREAKING🚨: NORAD fighter jets intercepted two aircraft after they entered restricted airspace near President Trump’s Bedminster golf club in New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/n2JD4nhUPa
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) August 9, 2026
The dramatic interception was captured on video by X user @JoeyGoomba, who showed an F-16 fighter jet closing in on what appeared to be a small Cessna near Jefferson Township, just outside Bedminster.
@News12NJDesk @fox5ny @NBCNews @nynjpaweather #airforce #USA Jefferson Township, NJ- 8/9/26, Cessna airplane violating TFR, followed by US Fighter Jet. pic.twitter.com/GUB39A6fPz
— Joey’s North Jersey Severe Weather (@JoeyGoomba) August 9, 2026
President Trump had traveled to Bedminster for the weekend and was scheduled to return to Washington later Sunday after the LIV Golf event.
As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, NORAD aircraft intercepted the 11th unauthorized aircraft near Trump’s Bedminster property during the 2025 Independence Day weekend.
And on July 19, 2026, more than ten general aviation aircraft violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster and East Rutherford. Three of those incursions required F-16 intercepts, while military pilots deployed flares during two encounters to attract the civilian pilots’ attention, according to an official NORAD release.
How many times must this happen?
Pilots are required to check FAA Notices to Airmen before taking off. The restrictions surrounding a sitting president are neither secret nor optional.
Whether these latest violations resulted from carelessness, confusion or reckless disregard remains under investigation. Officials have presented no evidence that either aircraft posed a deliberate threat.
