The president confirmed the shooting to reporters and praised the Secret Service for their swift response.
President Donald Trump had to be evacuated from a press briefing on Monday evening due to a shooting outside the White House.
Once he returned to the briefing room minutes later, Trump confirmed the shooting and praised the Secret Service for having his back.
“There was a shooting outside of the White House and it seems to be very well under control. I’d like to thank the Secret Service for doing their always quick and very effective work,” he told reporters, according to NBC.
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“It was the suspect that was shot,” Trump added, noting that no one else was injured.
A senior administration official also confirmed the shooting happened close to Lafayette Square. The man at the center of the incident is now in custody.
Once Trump returned to the podium to resume the briefing, the Secret Service also tweeted: “The Secret Service can confirm there has been an officer involved shooting at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. Law enforcement officials are on the scene.”
A follow-up post said, “the investigation into a USSS officer involved shooting is ongoing. A male subject and a USSS officer were both transported to a local hospital. At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger.”
When Trump returned to the briefing room, he shared that he had been taken to the Oval Office.
“I feel very safe with the Secret Service. They’re fantastic people. They’re the best of the best. They’re highly trained,” Trump told reporters. “They just wanted me to step aside for a little while just to make sure that everything was clear outside.”
He added, “I don’t think the person breached anything,” he said. “I don’t believe anything was breached. I asked that question.”
There are conflicting reports about whether the suspect was armed or not, but officials said the man was shot in the chest by a Secret Service officer.
The man was reportedly unconscious when he was taken to George Washington University Hospital.
The briefing room was placed on lockdown immediately after the president was swiftly ushered out, according to reports.
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