President Donald Trump remained inside the White House working on Saturday, May 23, when a gunman opened fire near a Secret Service checkpoint, just one block away.
Officers quickly returned fire and killed the suspect, while one bystander was wounded in the exchange. Trump continued his workday uninterrupted late into the night.
The shooting broke out shortly after 6 p.m. at the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
According to the Secret Service, the man approached the checkpoint carrying a bag, pulled out a weapon, and started shooting at officers.
Agents returned fire immediately and struck him. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
No Secret Service officers were hurt. The bystander who was hit by gunfire received medical treatment. Officials have not released the bystander’s name or condition.
The incident triggered a brief lockdown in parts of the White House complex.
Also Read: Last Moments of Shooting Near White House Between Secret Service and Gunman
Countersnipers appeared on rooftops as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.
Trump was briefed on the shooting but stayed focused on his schedule, with White House communications director Steven Cheung posting on X late Saturday that the president had been working steadily since early morning and continued into the evening.
Working late at night hints at Trump’s workload amid ongoing talks on a possible nuclear agreement with Iran and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier in the day, Trump said that the Iran-U.S. agreement was largely negotiated.
Secret Service Confirms Active Investigations Into Ongoing Security Issues
This was the latest security scare around the White House. The area near the executive mansion is lined with checkpoints, magnetometers, and armed officers, yet the gunman managed to get close enough to open fire. Investigators are now examining how that happened.
The FBI is assisting the Secret Service in the investigation. Agents cordoned off the intersection Saturday night, collected evidence under bright lights, and gathered video from the area.
No motive has been made public yet. Officials described the shooter as a lone actor rather than part of any larger plot.
Early reports identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best, with social media accounts describing him as someone with a history of mental health issues.
Some posts said he suffered from delusions, including a belief that he was Jesus Christ.
This is not the first time gunfire has echoed near the presidential home. Past cases have involved both mentally troubled individuals and those with political aims.
Trump Works Late Into Night as High-Stakes Negotiations Continue
Trump remained in the residence throughout, with a White House official confirming he was never in danger.
The president remains busy and engaged in negotiations involving Iran and security in the Middle East.
Trump is eyeing a deal that could end the current conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
Also Read: White House Explodes at Mike Pompeo After He Attacks Trump’s Emerging Iran Peace Deal
The war erupted on February 28 when U.S. and Israeli forces launched a massive wave of airstrikes across Iran under Operation Epic Fury.
The surprise attacks targeted nuclear sites, military bases, and leadership compounds in a bid to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions and weaken the regime.
Iran responded with a barrage of retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the region, hitting U.S. bases, Israeli cities, and Gulf infrastructure.
Tehran quickly moved to disrupt global energy flows by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint that normally carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG.
That blockade, combined with damage to regional energy facilities, sent oil prices soaring from around $70 a barrel before the war to well over $100 at peaks.
Fuel costs spiked at American gas pumps, setting records near $4.23 a gallon. Trump is now racing against time to end the war and lower gas prices before the eagerly awaited midterm elections.
