A man was detained on Saturday after driving his vehicle onto a pavement near the White House and demanding to speak to US President Donald Trump. The incident happened at about 12:15 local time near the intersection of 16th and H Streets Northwest, close to Lafayette Square in Washington DC.
Secret Service officers and other law enforcement personnel responded to the scene, where the driver was taken into custody and the vehicle searched. The Secret Service said local roads were temporarily closed as a precaution.
“Out of an abundance of caution, local roads were shut down, and the vehicle was swept with negative results,” a Secret Service spokesperson said.
No dangerous materials were found inside the vehicle, the agency said.
The man was later taken to a nearby hospital for a “mental health evaluation”, according to the Secret Service. His identity has not been released.
It is unclear what prompted him to drive onto the pavement or why he wanted to speak to Trump. Authorities have not announced any criminal charges.
Trump was not at the White House at the time. According to his public schedule, he was spending Saturday at Camp David in Maryland. Images from the scene showed Secret Service officers surrounding the vehicle and detaining the driver. Nearby roads were closed while officers carried out their search.
The intersection is next to Lafayette Square and within the security area around the White House complex. The National Park Service describes the White House area as including parkland and adjacent pavements extending north to H Street and west to 17th Street.
The Secret Service praised its officers and the Metropolitan Police Department for their response. “We appreciate the swift actions of our Secret Service Police Officers and are grateful to the Metropolitan Police Department for their prompt response,” the spokesperson said.
The incident comes after other security incidents near the White House in recent months.
On 23 May, two people were shot near Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street Northwest. According to previous reports, the alleged gunman, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, later approached the White House complex and pulled a firearm from a bag.
Best allegedly fired several shots before Secret Service personnel returned fire and killed him.
In March, a van crashed through a barricade near Connecticut Avenue and H Street at about 06:30 local time. The Secret Service said the driver was detained and questioned.