Trump escorted to safety over ‘shooting’ near White House [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• While addressing the reporters during a White House news briefing on Monday evening, President Donald Trump was abruptly escorted out of the room over a “shooting” incident outside the White House complex.
• Trump came back about 10 minutes later and told the media that there was an armed man outside the White House who was shot by the Secret Service.
• The White House and Secret Service have not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.

During a White House press briefing on Monday evening, President Donald Trump abruptly cut his address and was escorted by the Secret Service to exit the podium. About 10 minutes later, he came back and told the media that there was “a shooting” outside the White House.

“There are no details we just found out … it was outside of the White House,” Trump said. “Somebody was taken to the hospital. It seems that the shooting was done by law enforcement. It was the suspect who was shot.”

The president said that he was brought to the Oval Office. A White House official told Yahoo News that they heard shots but don’t know any details. 

“Sounds like a shooting outside,” the official said in a text message.

Trump was delivering a prepared address about mail-in voting and recent updates from the stock market when he was interrupted by his aides and brought away from the podium.

“Excuse me?” Trump said when one of the aides called his attention.

An official who appeared to be a Secret Service agent then whispered something to his ear. In the video, Trump can be heard saying “Oh” as he was escorted out of the room. Upon his return, the president gave some details about what happened.

“There was a shooting. It was [a] law enforcement shot someone — seems to be the suspect and the suspect is now on the way to the hospital… There was nobody else injured,” Trump said.

Trump said that the perpetrator was believed to be armed and had been shot by Secret Service agents outside the fence of the White House residence. 

“It might not have anything to do with me,” said Trump. “It might have been something else.” 

The president also lauded the Secret Service for its “always quick and effective work.”

As of the time of publication, the White House and Secret Service have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Source: AOL.com