While US President Trump is in the White House, there is an exchange of fire outside. The Secret Service shoots at a suspected attacker.
In the immediate vicinity of the White House, security forces returned fire from a suspected attacker and fatally wounded him. The person pulled a weapon from a pocket and opened fire, then officers fired back and hit the suspect, the Secret Service responsible for the security of the president announced on Platform X. The person was pronounced dead at the hospital.
An uninvolved passer-by was also injured during the exchange of gunfire in the capital Washington. It initially remained unclear whether the suspect or agents of the Secret Service were responsible.
Trump was in the White House
US President Donald Trump was reportedly in the White House at the time of the incident. On the Truth Social platform, he later thanked his security forces for their efforts. “Thank you to our great Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift and professional intervention this evening,” Trump wrote. The attacker had a violent past and was “possibly possessed by the most valued building in our country”, explained the president.
According to the Secret Service, no official was injured. After the shooting, a large deployment of security forces was seen in the White House, some areas were closed off to passers-by.
It remained unclear whether the alleged attacker intended to enter the White House. At first, nothing was known about the motive for the shootings in the middle of downtown Washington. The Secret Service launched an investigation.
The incident reportedly took place on Saturday after 6:00 p.m. local time immediately northwest of the White House, where Pennsylvania Avenue meets 17th Street. On the north side, passers-by can get very close to the White House – through a lattice fence, the government headquarters can be seen there easily.
Reporters who were on the grounds of the White House reported gunshots. The FBI later confirmed that shots had been fired. The broadcaster CBS News reported from 15 to 30 shots.
Northern lawn area cleared after gunshots
ABC News reported that the North Lawn of the White House had been cleared by the Secret Service after the gunshots. Reporters were instructed to run quickly to the press room of the White House.
Trump had held talks at the White House on Saturday, among other things, about an agreement for a possible end to the Iran war.
Media report: 21-year-old should have been the shooter
There was initially no official information on the identity of the alleged shooter. CNN reported, citing unnamed sources, that it was a 21-year-old man. With reference to a source from the judicial authorities, it was further said that he had already clashed with the Secret Service: In the summer of 2025, he is said to have blocked an entrance to the White House and then to have been admitted to a psychiatric facility for evaluation. According to the broadcaster, a judge later banned him from approaching the grounds of the White House.
Source: Tageblatt
