Robotic dogs were added to President-elect Donald Trump’s security detail on Thursday in the days after he was declared the winner of this year’s U.S. presidential election.
There was a “heightened” security presence in at Mar-a-Lago, a luxury resort and Trump’s “home base” in Palm Beach, Florida, following the victory, according to reporting by Reuters.
Robotic dogs, specifically the robotic dog seen in the video below, are considered “Secret Service assets,” Anthony Guglielmi, U.S. Secret Service Chief of Communications shared in a statement with USA TODAY Friday.
Trump survived two assassinations attempts this year, one at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally on July 13 and the other at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sept. 15.
“Safeguarding the President-elect is a top priority,” Guglielmi said. “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.”
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The video of the robotic dog gone viral online, amassing over 6 million views on TikTok and over 30,000 views on X since it was first posted.
A camera is mounted on the red, white and black robotic dog and comes accompanied with a sign that says, “DO NOT PET.”
The Secret Service did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s inquiry about when robotic dogs became part of Trump’s security detail or how long they will be utilized.
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