Trump escorted from briefing after shooting near White House

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP

The US Secret Service abruptly escorted President Donald Trump out of a press briefing on Monday because of a shooting outside the White House.

Trump returned to the media room several minutes later and said a person had been shot by law enforcement and taken to the hospital. He said he understood the suspect had been armed.

"It was a shooting outside of the White House," Trump said. "It seems to be very well under control... But there was an actual shooting, and somebody has been taken to the hospital. I don't know the condition of the person."

Nobody else was wounded in the shooting, Trump said. He praised the Secret Service response and said the agency would have more details on the event later.

The US Secret Service said late Monday that the White House was not breached during the incident and no one under Secret Service protection was ever in danger.

The President had been speaking about the stock market when a Secret Service agent interrupted him at the podium only minutes into the briefing.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought were also taken out of the room.

More from International