Secret Service agents shot and killed a 21-year-old man outside the White House on Saturday evening, an incident that comes exactly one month after the deadly White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. A bystander was wounded in the crossfire. President Donald Trump, who was inside the complex during the lockdown, praised law enforcement for their swift action before demanding funding for a highly secure White House ballroom.
The suspect approached a security checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW at approximately 6:00 p.m. and produced a firearm from his bag. He opened fire before agents returned fire, killing him at the scene. The White House was placed on lockdown while emergency personnel treated the wounded bystander.
Court records show the 21-year-old gunman Nasire Best had a history of encounters with the Secret Service. In the summer of 2025, Best breached restricted areas while claiming to be “Jesus” and was subsequently held for involuntary psychiatric evaluation.
Following the shootout, Trump released a statement on Truth Social praising the Secret Service while explicitly linking the violence to his proposed $400 million “Militarily Top Secret Ballroom.” The president stated that “The National Security of our Country demands it,” arguing that a reinforced space is mandatory for the safety of future administrations.
The legislative path for the facility remains stalled on Capitol Hill. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough recently blocked a $1 billion security package from advancing through a simple-majority Republican reconciliation bill. Republicans must now secure 60 votes to greenlight the expansion project.