Driver Arrested After Ramming White House Gate, Sent for Mental Health Evaluation

Washington D.C. – An individual was arrested late Tuesday after intentionally ramming a vehicle into a Secret Service security gate at the White House complex. The incident, which occurred around 10:37 p.m. at 17th and E Streets NW, prompted an immediate response from authorities, though officials stated President Trump, who was inside the White House, was never in danger.

The U.S. Secret Service confirmed the driver was taken into custody by Uniformed Division officers immediately following the collision. The vehicle involved, identified as a 2010 Acura TSX with Maryland license plates, was subsequently assessed and deemed safe by Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department personnel. While the White House was not placed on lockdown, the road leading to the damaged gate was closed for investigation and vehicle removal.

"❗ BREAKING: Someone just rammed a vehicle into the gates at the White House," social media user Ian Miles Cheong posted, sharing early reports of the incident.

This event marks another instance of a vehicle impacting the White House perimeter, following similar occurrences in January and May of 2024. A more serious incident in May 2023 involved a driver who crashed a U-Haul truck into a gate and later confessed to plotting to harm former President Joe Biden, highlighting ongoing security concerns. The recent incident comes amidst heightened anxieties regarding political violence in the United States, including reported assassination attempts on President Trump last year and the killings of other political figures.

The arrested individual was reportedly transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation, according to law enforcement sources. Authorities have not yet released the driver's identity or any potential motive behind the collision, with the investigation into the cause of the incident ongoing. The Secret Service continues to prioritize the security of the White House complex and its occupants.