•Gunshots were heard near the White House on Saturday evening, prompting an immediate lockdown and forcing journalists to seek shelter.
•U.S. President Donald Trump was inside the Oval Office at the time, conducting high-level negotiations involving Iran and Middle Eastern countries.
•The U.S. Secret Service and FBI responded to the scene; a suspect was reportedly shot by Secret Service agents, and a bystander was also struck.
•Journalists and witnesses described chaotic scenes, with some reporting hearing dozens of gunshots before running for safety.
•Authorities have not yet confirmed injuries or provided details about the suspect, and the investigation is ongoing.
•This incident follows previous security breaches, including an armed man storming a security checkpoint near Trump in April.
•The White House remained under lockdown late into the evening as security personnel conducted sweeps of the area.
A tense security situation unfolded near the White House on Saturday evening after multiple gunshots were heard close to the presidential complex, prompting an immediate lockdown by law enforcement and forcing journalists covering the White House to seek shelter. The incident occurred while U.S. President Donald Trump was inside the Oval Office, engaged in high-level negotiations involving Iran and several Middle Eastern countries.
According to reports, the gunfire was heard near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just one block away from the White House grounds. Police, Secret Service personnel, and federal agents quickly cordoned off the area, while National Guard troops and security officers restricted access to downtown Washington. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it was investigating the incident and said officials were working to verify details from personnel on the ground.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also responded to the scene, with Director Kash Patel stating on X (formerly Twitter) that FBI agents were assisting the Secret Service. "FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds — we will update the public as we’re able," Patel posted.
Trump was inside the Oval Office at the time, participating in calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain regarding negotiations linked to Iran. Earlier in the evening, Trump had posted on social media that discussions about a possible "memorandum of understanding pertaining to peace" had made major progress, with a broader agreement nearing completion. He also mentioned having spoken separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicating that final details of a potential agreement were still under discussion.
Journalists stationed on the White House North Lawn were caught in the chaos. ABC News correspondent Selina Wang reported that she was filming a social media segment when the gunfire erupted. "I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots. It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now," Wang wrote on X. She later shared that the sounds of the gunshots were captured in her recording as she dove to the ground during the chaos.
A Canadian tourist near the White House, Reid Adrian, told AFP that the sounds initially resembled fireworks before panic spread. "We heard probably 20 to 25 what sounded like fireworks, but they're gunshots, and then everyone started running," Adrian said.
The Secret Service reported that a person, believed to be the suspect, was shot by their agents near the scene. A bystander was also struck during the chaos. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether anyone was injured or provided details about the suspect. The Metropolitan Police Department had not released an official statement at the time of reporting, and a Secret Service spokesperson told AFP that the agency was continuing to gather information.
This incident comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding Trump, who has faced multiple alleged assassination threats in recent months. The most recent prior incident took place on April 25, when an armed man reportedly stormed a security checkpoint near a ballroom where Trump was attending a media gala. Saturday’s security scare once again placed the White House under an intense lockdown as heavily armed officers continued sweeping the surrounding area late into the evening.
