The White House was briefly placed under lockdown after a car crashed near Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., prompting an immediate response from the Secret Service. Two people were arrested in separate security incidents while Donald Trump was inside the White House.
Donald Trump was at the White House during the Lafayette Square security incident
According to USA Today, the press area of the White House was briefly locked down following a security incident. A silver sedan reportedly crashed into a signpost on a paved walkway near the northern end of Lafayette Square, directly across from the presidential complex. Smoke was seen coming from the vehicle. Footage captured by Washington Sun journalist Martin Austermuhle showed the driver getting out and becoming involved in a physical confrontation with Secret Service officers and National Guard personnel.
A Secret Service spokesperson said the driver was “combative with law enforcement, but was quickly placed under arrest.” Authorities had not immediately disclosed the individual’s identity or explained what led to the crash.
Following the crash, White House personnel instructed journalists to stay inside as officers responded. Roads around Lafayette Square were also temporarily closed.
Around the same time, a second individual was arrested after jumping a barricade near the northwest corner of Lafayette Park. Authorities are investigating whether the two incidents were related. However, no specific motive has been revealed.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House during the crash. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and officials had not confirmed whether the vehicle crash was deliberate. The investigation remains ongoing.
The latest incident recalls earlier security threats against the president. In July 2024, he was shot and wounded during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One spectator was killed and two others were injured. Two months later, another suspected assassination attempt was thwarted at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incidents brought the Secret Service under intense scrutiny. Subsequent investigations revealed serious security lapses.
