A person has been arrested after a car was driven into a security gate outside the White House late on Tuesday evening, the Secret Service has confirmed.
The incident occurred at 10:37pm local time at the security barrier for the western entrance to the complex, near the corner of 17th and E Streets. Officers from the Secret Service's uniformed division immediately arrested the driver.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time, but investigators determined there was no need to initiate a lockdown. Bomb detection robots were deployed to inspect the vehicle, which was later deemed safe by investigators from the Secret Service and Washington's Metropolitan Police Department.
“Our investigation into the cause of this collision is ongoing,” the agency said in a statement. The road leading to the gate will remain closed until the car is towed away. Authorities have not yet disclosed the driver's identity or any potential motive.
The incident comes amid a busy week at the White House, with construction beginning on a new $250m ballroom demanded by President Trump. Additionally, National Guard troops remain deployed in the capital, with reports suggesting they could stay until summer 2026.
