A man was arrested Tuesday night after driving his car into a security barrier outside the White House. The incident occurred at around 10:37 p.m., with President Donald Trump present at the residence. Officials have not determined if the crash was intentional.
The U.S. Secret Service reported that the driver crashed into a vehicle gate just outside the White House grounds in Washington, D.C., at approximately 10:37 p.m. on Tuesday. The individual was immediately taken into custody by Secret Service Uniformed Division officers. No injuries were reported, and the suspect's identity has not been released.
"The individual was immediately arrested by U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officers, and the vehicle was assessed by Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department and deemed safe," a Secret Service spokesman stated. Law enforcement used a bomb detection robot to inspect the scene, confirming no explosives were present.
Photographs show the vehicle as an Acura TSX bearing Maryland license plates. At the time of the incident, President Trump was at the White House, according to the Secret Service.
This event comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Secret Service following security lapses earlier in the year. In July 2024, failures at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania allowed a shooter to wound then-candidate Trump in the ear. Last month, an agent was placed on leave after reportedly falling asleep and leaving a weapon unattended at the United Nations. More recently, last week, authorities discovered an elevated hunting stand in a tree overlooking Trump's Air Force One disembarkation area in Palm Beach, Florida. FBI Director Kash Patel noted Sunday that the FBI is investigating, leading to Trump using smaller stairs for boarding due to increased security measures.