Man Drives onto White House Sidewalk Demanding to See Trump
A security scare unfolded near the White House when a man drove onto a sidewalk and asked to speak with then-President Donald Trump.
A security incident near the White House on Saturday afternoon prompted a swift response from the Secret Service after a man drove his vehicle onto a sidewalk and demanded to speak with President Donald Trump.
Law enforcement and military personnel converged on the area surrounding Lafayette Square shortly after 12:15 p.m. when the vehicle mounted the sidewalk at 16th and H streets Northwest. The unidentified driver was detained by officers who then surrounded and searched the vehicle.
The man had been demanding to speak directly with Trump, who was not at the White House at the time. The president was reportedly at Camp David in Maryland, according to his public schedule.
The incident triggered an immediate security operation along the northern edge of the White House complex. Secret Service vehicles were dispatched to the scene, and local roads were temporarily closed.
"Out of an abundance of caution, local roads were shut down, and the vehicle was swept with negative results," a Secret Service spokesperson stated. No dangerous materials were found in the vehicle.
The driver was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for a mental health evaluation, the agency confirmed. The identity of the individual has not been released, nor have authorities disclosed the specific reasons for his actions or his alleged desire to see Trump.