Trump caught in shooting drama
DONALD TRUMP was scrambled from the White House briefing room just minutes into an opening statement yesterday after the secret service shot someone nearby.
The US president was talking about the likelihood of a stock market surge when suddenly a suited man with an earpiece asked him to leave the room.
Mr Trump later returned to the briefing room, where he had been addressing the press, to explain what had just happened.
Mr Trump said that someone who was armed had been shot by the secret service outside the White House fence, though he said exact details at the time remained unclear.
The president said that the person had been injured and taken to hospital. It was not clear the gender or age of the person involved.
Whether the incident had anything directly to do with Mr Trump was initially unclear, with the president saying: “It might not have had anything to do with me.”
The White House briefing room, which was once a swimming pool, sits at the northern side of the White House and is less than 330ft from the perimeter fence.
It was not immediately clear exactly where the shooting had taken place.
Mr Trump had initially been asked to “step outside” by someone who appeared to be part of his security detail just a few minutes after the late afternoon briefing began.
The individual had interrupted Mr Trump’s opening statement in midflow as the TV cameras were rolling. Mr Trump then swiftly left the room.
Returning later, Mr Trump explained: “Sorry for that. There was a shooting outside of the White House. Seems to be very much under control.”
He continued: “There was an actual shooting. Somebody’s been taken to the hospital.” Mr Trump said it appeared that the person had been shot by the secret service.
Mr Trump said he thought the person was armed. He said he had not been scrambled to the secure bunker below the White House, as happened during antiracism protests earlier this year.
He brushed away suggestions he would be rattled by the incident, saying: “Do I seem rattled? The world’s always been a dangerous place.
“It’s not unique. I feel very safe with the secret service. They’re the best of the best.”
The condition of the shooting victim remained unclear last night.
Mr Trump said that he did not believe the White House perimeter had been breached.