US Justice Department Labels White House Shooting an Assassination Attempt on Trump

Incident Near the White House

According to Главком: On May 23, 2026, a shooting erupted near the White House in Washington, D.C., which the U.S. Department of Justice has classified as an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. The assailant was neutralized at the scene and never managed to harm the president, who was inside the Oval Office at the time. This event marks the latest in a series of security breaches targeting the nation's highest leader.

The gunfire occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time when the attacker approached a Secret Service checkpoint at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. He pulled a weapon from his bag and opened fire on the officers stationed there. Secret Service agents returned fire immediately, fatally wounding the shooter, who later died at a hospital. None of the security personnel were injured, but a bystander was wounded in the crossfire.

The deceased suspect was identified as 21-year-old Nasir Best, who had previously been arrested for attempting to enter the White House and was under a court order barring him from approaching the complex. Best had also posted online threats against Trump. This incident is the third shooting near the White House since the start of 2026. In May, the Secret Service neutralized an armed man near the Washington Monument, while the suspect in an April incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was identified as 45-year-old Michael Marks from Texas.

Presidential Security Concerns

According to prosecutors,

“Saturday’s attack, along with the April armed assault on Trump during the annual correspondents’ dinner, underscores an urgent need to establish a secure refuge offering the highest level of bulletproof protection.”

This statement highlights growing alarm over U.S. presidential security amid multiple attacks on Trump and his inner circle.

The White House shooting serves as a stark reminder of the escalating threats facing the U.S. president, raising concerns not only among law enforcement but also across society at large. Given the frequency of such incidents-including armed attacks on the president-security has become an increasingly pressing issue. Authorities must take immediate action to ensure the safety of both the president and citizens in the nation's capital.

The recent shooting incident near the White House raises significant concerns about presidential safety, especially in light of the evacuation of Trump during a similar event earlier this year. Such repeated threats underscore the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect the nation's leaders from potential attacks.