American President Donald Trump has called for tighter security at the White House following a shooting incident on Saturday evening, May 23, 2026, in which Secret Service agents fatally shot a gunman near the complex. This marks the second major security breach at the White House in just one month.
The incident occurred when a man approached the White House security perimeter, pulled a weapon from his bag, and opened fire. Secret Service police returned fire, striking the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. A bystander was also struck during the exchange, though no Secret Service agents were injured.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "This event is one month removed from the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, and it goes to show how important it is for all future Presidents to get what will be the safest and most secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C. The National Security of our Country demands it."
Trump also praised the Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift and professional response, noting that the gunman had a violent history and a possible obsession with the White House. "Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country's most cherished structure," he added.
President Trump was inside the White House at the time, working on negotiations with Iran, but was not impacted by the incident, according to Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi. The confrontation took place just after 6:00 pm (2200 GMT).
Multiple US media outlets identified the suspect as Nasire Best, a 21-year-old from Maryland, who had a history of mental health concerns and multiple prior interactions with Secret Service members. Police and security forces cordoned off the area, and National Guard troops blocked access to the scene.
A Canadian tourist who witnessed the event told journalists: "We heard probably 20 to 25 what sounded like fireworks, but they're gunshots, and then everyone started running." Journalists on the White House North Lawn were ordered to run and shelter in the press briefing room. Broadcast journalist Selina Wang, who was recording a video for social media when the gunfire broke out, captured the sounds of shots as she dove to the ground, later saying on X: "It sounded like dozens of gunshots."
The shooting has reignited debates about security protocols at the White House, with Trump emphasizing the need for the most secure space possible in Washington, D.C.
