EXCLUSIVE

Trump Tower -- the place Donald Trump calls home and work -- is being protected by a line of dump trucks all filled with sand ... and the endgame is to prevent terrorist attacks.

NYC Dept. of Sanitation vehicles showed up early Tuesday, forming a barrier to minimize an attack with explosive devices ... law enforcement tells TMZ.

A Dept. of Sanitation spokesperson tells us they've also got trucks set up at The Peninsula Hotel, Hilton Hotel and Javits Center for the same purpose.