Man Crashes Into Secret Service Gate Outside White House, Arrested Immediately

A man was arrested late Tuesday night after ramming his car into a security barrier near the White House, prompting an emergency response from federal law enforcement.

According to the U.S. Secret Service, the incident occurred at approximately 10:37 p.m., when a vehicle slammed into a gate on the perimeter of the White House complex. Officers with the Secret Service’s Uniformed Division arrested the driver on the spot. His identity has not been released, and authorities have not yet determined whether the act was intentional.

“The individual was immediately arrested by U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officers, and the vehicle was assessed by Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department and deemed safe,” a Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement.

The car involved was an Acura TSX bearing Maryland license plates. Bomb squad units used a detection robot to inspect the vehicle and clear the scene safely.

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the crash, the Secret Service confirmed.

The breach comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Secret Service following a series of high-profile security lapses. Most notably, in 2024, then-candidate Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania—an incident that exposed gaps in perimeter control and sparked a full-scale internal review.

More recently, a Secret Service agent assigned to the United Nations was placed on leave after reportedly falling asleep while on duty and leaving a government-issued weapon unattended.

Just last week, a hunting stand was discovered in a tree overlooking the area where President Trump routinely exits Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Sunday that the agency is actively investigating the discovery. In response, the president has altered his boarding procedure, using smaller stairs to reduce exposure in open areas.

The Secret Service has not issued further comment on the suspect or his motives in Tuesday night’s incident.