The shooting near White House disturbed Trump’s briefing on TV. The Secret Service said the incident occurred one block from the compound, when an officer shot at the culprit who had run “aggressively” towards him.
An agent then walked on stage as President Donald Trump was briefing and took him away.
Trump came back minutes later to say the matter was handled.
The US Secret Service said the incident occurred on Monday on the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave outside the White House perimeter.
It said a 51-year-old man, who has not been recognized, came straight to the officer, told him he had weapons and assumed a “shooter’s stance”, whereupon the officer fired him in the torso.
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The Secret Service did not reveal whether the man was armed. It added that “both the officer and the suspect were then taken to hospital”, and that “at no time during this incident was the White House complex breached”.
After President Donald Trump and his staff had vacated from the room, doors to the briefing room were locked with the journalists inside.
When the president came back nine minutes later, he said: “Law enforcement shot someone, it seems to be the suspect.”
He said he did not know if the person harboured any ill aim towards him.
“It might not have had anything to do with me,” the president said.
A journalist asked Trump if he was shaken by the situation. He replied: “Do I seem rattled?”
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Trump added: “It’s unfortunate that this is the world, but the world’s always been a dangerous place. It’s not something that’s unique.”
The District of Columbia fire department said a man sustained serious or possibly grave injuries, according to the Associated Press.
The news agency also reported that police officers were investigating into whether the individual has a history of mental disorder.
