Trump says gunman who opened fire had ‘violent history and possible obsession’ with White House

The gunman had previous run-ins with law enforcement as well as mental health issues.

Published: May 24, 2026 8:29am

President Trump reacted to the incident at the White House involving a gunman and the Secret Service exchanging gunfire.

Secret Service agents killed Nasire Best, a 21-year-old from Maryland, who fired at a White House security checkpoint Saturday. He had previous run-ins with law enforcement as well as mental health issues.

The man was "known to United States Secret Service," according to a D.C. Superior Court filing from July 2025.

"Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure," President Donald Trump wrote on Sunday morning in a Truth Social post.

"The gunman is dead after an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service Agents near the White House gates," he added. 
 

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