Trump evacuated from briefing after shooting near White House

President Donald Trump was rushed out of a press briefing Monday night after shots were fired near the White House.

The president returned safe and sound after Secret Service shot a suspected shooter just outside the presidential grounds.

Secret Service whisks Trump from briefing

Trump was just getting started with his briefing when a Secret Service agent took him aside, surprising reporters and the president. “Excuse me?” Trump said, before exiting the room.

Trump was escorted to the Oval Office, he later said, after a suspect was shot outside the White House.

According to the Secret Service, a 51-year-old man approached a Secret Service officer at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, right outside the White House, around 5:50 pm. The man said he had a gun and then charged towards the officer, before making as if to fire a weapon. “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to shoot you,” the man reportedly yelled. The officer shot the man, who was taken to the hospital.

“The Suspect then turned around, ran aggressively, towards the officer, and in a drawing motion, withdrew an object from his clothing. He then crouched into a shooter’s stance as if about to fire a weapon. The Secret Service officer discharged his weapon striking the individual in the torso,” the Secret Service said.

The suspect, later identified as Myron Berryman, remained in the hospital in “critical but stable condition” as of Tuesday, according to police. Watch Trump below:

“Do I seem rattled?”

The White House grounds were not breached and Secret Service protectees were never in any danger, the Secret Service said.

When the commotion was over, a nonplussed Trump returned to the podium, where he gave a brief explanation of what happened and thanked the Secret Service for their professionalism and protection. Trump said that an armed suspect had been shot outside the White House fence, which was recently fortified because of protests.

“There was a shooting outside of the White House and it seems to be very well under control. I’d like to thank the Secret Service for doing their always quick and very effective work,” Trump said.

“I feel very safe with the Secret Service. They’re fantastic people. They’re the best of the best. They’re highly trained,” Trump added later in the briefing. After answering some questions about the incident, Trump resumed business as if nothing had happened.

“Do I seem rattled?” he asked.