Trump Protester Arrested for Assault at Florida Golf Club

West Palm Beach, FL – A 76-year-old man was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge following an altercation with a Trump supporter outside Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on February 15, 2026. The incident occurred during competing demonstrations, as President Donald Trump was playing golf with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Urban Meyer, and Nick Saban.

Details of the Arrest

Paul Messer, of suburban West Palm Beach, was taken into custody by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office after allegedly striking a female Trump supporter multiple times with a flagpole during a “Not My President” protest against President Trump’s immigration policies. Golfweek and Fox News reported on the incident.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, deputies witnessed Messer arguing with a Trump supporter who complained that protest signs were obstructing her view. Deputies then observed Messer strike the woman several times in the upper chest and neck area with the flagpole. The woman reportedly stumbled backward and sustained visible redness to her neck. CBS News detailed the account provided by the sheriff’s office.

Legal Proceedings and Bail

Messer is currently free on $1,000 bail and is scheduled for an arraignment before County Judge Lourdes Casanova on March 10. Attempts to reach Messer for comment have been unsuccessful. Golfweek provided information regarding his bail and upcoming court date.

Political Context

The altercation took place during a President’s Day rally with approximately 60 pro-Trump supporters present outside the golf club. The incident follows a recent golf outing between President Trump and Governor DeSantis, along with former college football coaches Urban Meyer and Nick Saban. Fox News noted that this golf outing signaled a potential thaw in the relationship between Trump and DeSantis, with Florida increasingly aligning with Trump administration priorities.

Recent initiatives, such as the “Healthy Florida First” program, demonstrate Florida’s alignment with the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. Fox News highlighted this connection.