U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon was temporarily escorted by a Secret Service agent from an ongoing coronavirus briefing after a shooting was reported outside the White House.
"There was an actual shooting, and somebody has been taken to the hospital. I don't know the condition of the person," the president said after he returned to the White House briefing room minutes later.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought were also taken out of the room and the doors were locked.
"It seems to be very well under control," Trump said. "It was the suspect that was shot."
No one else was injured, according to the president, adding that he was taken to the Oval Office when he was evacuated.
Trump had been mid-sentence during the first attempt at the briefing when the Secret Service agent came into the room and asked him to leave.
A senior administration official told CNN the shooting happened just outside of the White House grounds close to Lafayette Square and the shooter is in custody.
Law enforcement officials were still trying to determine the suspect's motive.
The suspect was transferred to a local hospital, and the District of Columbia fire department said the man suffered serious or possibly critical injuries. Authorities were investigating whether the individual has a history of mental illness.
Trump praised the work of Secret Service personnel for their work in keeping him safe. Asked if he was shaken by the incident, Trump asked reporters: "I don't know. Do I seem rattled?"
At Monday's briefing, Trump said he is interested in hosting a Group of Seven summit following the November 3 presidential elections, adding that invitations to leaders have not yet been sent.
In May, Trump postponed a G7 summit he had hoped to hold in June until September or later and said he hoped to expand the list of invitees to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India.
