Heavily modified, black armoured buggy with tinted windows seen escorting Trump at Scottish golf course.
A heavily fortified black buggy hogged the limelight as former US President Donald Trump was seen golfing at his Turnberry resort in Scotland over the weekend. Dubbed 'Golf Force One' by different media outlets, the modified vehicle was closely tailed by Trump's golf cart in the color white, catching attention with its muscular shape, dark-tinted windows, and militaristic design.
What Is 'Golf Force One'?
The odd vehicle was confirmed as a heavily modified Polaris Ranger XP, an off-road vehicle usually utilized in the UK by mountain rescue teams, rural police, and emergency services. The one observed at Turnberry, however, was anything but typical. According to reports, it was probably customized to serve as a rapid-response evacuation vehicle in the event of an emergency during Trump's outdoor rounds.
It was noted by experts that the buggy was heavily customized, featuring strengthened side and rear panels as well as a black stripe along the windshield, all of which indicated advanced armour incorporation. "The darker tint, the greater protection likely built into the glass," The Telegraph quoted an expert as saying, pointing to the clearly thick, bulletproof windows.
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The emergence of this special security car follows two 2024 assassination plots targeting Trump. At a July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman; 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks began firing an AR-style rifle.
A bullet grazed Trump's ear, and another killed former firefighter Corey Comperatore and injured another supporter. The shooter was brought down by a counter-sniper unit.
Just two months after that, in September, Trump was threatened again at his West Palm Beach golf club. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said a man named Ryan Wesley Routh was spotted taking aim at Trump with an SKS-style rifle 300–500 yards away. Secret Service agents fired before Routh ran off and was captured later on. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges.
The U.S. Secret Service declined to comment on the buggy's status within their security arrangements. In reply to questions from The Telegraph, the agency stated it 'uses a range of tools and methods' to provide protectee security but would not comment on detailed operational specifics.
Security at Turnberry was especially stringent during Trump's stay. The Independent said that 1,500 officers, roughly a third of Police Scotland's overall force were taken off duty for the operation. There were military vehicles, snipers, and roadblocks surrounding the site, which emphasized the enormity of the security arrangements.
Trump's visit also elicited stinging public reaction. Protesters marched in Edinburgh and other major cities, angry over his views on global warming and the Gaza war. Adding to the heightened tension, a Glasgow-bound flight made an emergency landing when a passenger said he had a bomb on board and wished to 'send a message' to the former president.
Though Trump generally travels in the U.S. presidential limousine, known as 'The Beast', a $1.5 million bullet-proof, bomb-proof, and chemical-proof armoured Cadillac, a Turnberry buggy, which appeared to be a more nimble, smaller incarnation suitable for golf courses, looked to be his vehicle of choice.
Security experts informed The Telegraph that such cars are built according to perceived levels of danger and can be fitted with materials such as laminated glass, concealed armour plating, and strengthened structures to resist anything from blunt trauma attacks to sniper bullets.
