His name is Astro.  (And yes, based on his name alone, I just presumed ‘his‘ gender.)  Astro is the newest addition to President Trump’s beefed-up security following multiple assassination attempts, and a continually expanding threat environment from both domestic and overseas threats.  He comes with exceptional surveillance capabilities and an array of sensors, according to the Secret Service spokesperson who spoke with the New York Post.

NEW: Donald Trump has reportedly beefed up his security detail at Mar-a-Lago and now has a robotic dog patrolling the property.

A large warning sign on the side of the robotic dog reads: ” Do Not Pet”

The robot dog was made by Boston Dynamics and is equipped with… pic.twitter.com/qLktzbf3m3

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 8, 2024

Robot dog seen patrolling Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate https://t.co/znKJl2PmnS pic.twitter.com/BfZvLS5J74

— New York Post (@nypost) November 8, 2024

Donald Trump has beefed up his security detail at Mar-a-Lago with a Secret Service robot dog — with photos showing the four-legged sentry patrolling the sprawling Florida property.

The robotic hound was seen mechanically strolling on the grass among the palm trees outside the Palm Beach estate Friday morning, video shows.

“DO NOT PET” reads a large warning on its side.

The remote-controlled robot dog, made by Boston Dynamics, is with the United States Secret Service, the agency confirmed.

“Safeguarding the President-elect is a top priority,” an agency spokesperson told The Post.

“While we cannot get into the specific capabilities, the robotic dogs are equipped with surveillance technology, and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations.”

Check out this video for a closer look at “Astro”, and an explanation of it’s capabilities.

The Secret Service actually does refer to the robot dog as the “high-tech hound”, according to a report in The Hill, and the name “Astro” stands for “Autonomous Systems And Technical Robotic Operation”.  If you ask me, it sounds as if someone worked really hard to come up with a name that would fit the “Astro” acronym — and I think that’s really cool.

The “high-tech hound,” as the Secret Service has been known to call it, was filmed walking the perimeter of the Palm Beach property alongside an agent, video shared by Reuters shows.

Anthony Guglielmi, the chief communications officer for the Secret Service, did not say how long the robots had been in use at Mar-a-Lago, but told Nexstar that they boast technology that can aid the service’s security goals.

“Safeguarding the President-elect is a top priority,” Guglielmi wrote in a statement shared with Nexstar. “While we cannot get into the specific capabilities, the robotic dogs are equipped with surveillance technology, and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations.”

Secret Service’s High-Tech Hound Debuts at 2024 NATO Summit
The Secret Service had also highlighted the robots’ abilities in a video shared from July’s 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. A Secret Service official explains that the units are part of its “ASTRO” program, which stands for “Autonomous Systems and Technical Robotic Operation.”

Secret Service Robot Dog is guarding Mara-a-Lago.

I expect more shit like this as Trump achieves more power. pic.twitter.com/OHGzcLDENl

— Jeremy H🇺🇸 (@jeremyfromga) November 8, 2024

According to the story previously referenced in The Hill, the security “dogs” can be fitted with all kinds of different security measures — bomb detection systems, chemical sensors, and high-resolution zoom capabilities.

The Secret Service had also highlighted the robots’ abilities in a video shared from July’s 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. A Secret Service official explains that the units are part of its “ASTRO” program, which stands for “Autonomous Systems and Technical Robotic Operation.”

The official said the “dogs” can be outfitted with technology to detect bombs and chemical threats, and features cameras with thermal technology and high-res zoom capabilities.

“I’m kind of excited to see what’s going to come out [of the ASTRO program] it continues to progress forward,” an official explains. “With just a quick download, the robot just continues to get better with every software update.”

The robotic dogs, meanwhile, were merely a part of the security measures observed at Mar-a-Lago since Election Day: A Coast Guard boat mounted with rifles was also pictured in the Lake Worth Lagoon just outside the property.

The emphasis on security at Mar-a-Lago comes amid Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential race, during which time he was the target of two assassination attempts. The FBI also said Friday that Trump was the target of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot. Three people have been charged in connection with the alleged scheme.

With news breaking today (because the Biden-Harris DOJ found it necessary to hide it from us until now) of more details surrounding the Iranian plot to kill President Trump — including the fact that there are allegedly people NOT CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY involved in those plots — I’m glad to see “Astro” added to the mix at Mar-a-Lago.

That said, there’s no beating good old fashioned human skill in regard to protection work.  My hope would be that the Secret Service doesn’t rely so heavily on their newfangled “high tech hound” that they forget that at the end of the day, that “dog” isn’t responsible for the safety of the President of the United States — the Agents who signed up for that task, are.  Maybe with a changing of the guard, that job will be taken a little more seriously than it has in recent memory.