Secret Service reports shots fired near the White House

BREAKING NEWSMay. 23, 2026, 10:53 PM UTCPolitics NewsPolitics NewsWhite House on lockdown as gunshots are reported nearbyThe U.S. Secret Service said it was aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Law enforcement vehicles near the White House after reports of gunfire on Saturday.Alex Brandon / APShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Julie Tsirkin, Megan Shannon and Kyla GuilfoilWASHINGTON — The White House is on lockdown after dozens of gunshots were heard nearby on Saturday evening.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The U.S. Secret Service said on X it was aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW and is “working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground.”An NBC News team at the White House heard between 20 and 30 gunshots around 6 p.m. and Secret Service agents urged reporters who were gathered outside on the North Lawn to run inside the press briefing room. The White House is on lockdown, and the Secret Service is posted just outside the room with guns drawn. An armed Secret Service agent outside the White House on Saturday.Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump is in the White House. Vice President JD Vance was confirmed to be at the White House earlier today, but it is unclear if he is still there or if he had left prior to the incident. The U.S. Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for information on the situation. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJulie TsirkinJulie Tsirkin is a correspondent covering Capitol Hill and the White House.Megan ShannonMegan Shannon is an Associate Producer for the White House Unit.Kyla GuilfoilKyla Guilfoil is a breaking news reporter on the politics team for NBC News Digital.