The White House may have one of the best security in the country, but tonight it was breached. On Tuesday night, a car busted through security barriers outside President Donald Trump‘s office. The accident, straight to the White House fences, resulted in a full lockdown. Armed agents also rushed towards the scene. It reportedly took place around 10:30 p.m. in night, when a man simply rammed his vehicle into the steel barricades that protect the Presidential compound.
And consequently, alarms blew off with tons of agents circling the White House, and Washington, DC’s most important place went to crisis mode. A photo has gone viral featuring the vehicle, which stopped at the fortified gates near the President’s residence, with headlights blinking, and police closing in.
A car has rammed the barricades at 17th and E NW at the White House complex. The area is now on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/GUSSAyht2K
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) October 22, 2025
Reports also say that authorities have detained a suspect, but mystery surrounds the person’s name and background. “At approximately 10.37pm, an individual drove a vehicle into the Secret Service vehicle gate located at 17th and E St, NW, in Washington, DC. The individual was arrested and the vehicle was assessed and deemed safe. Our investigation into the cause of this collision is ongoing,” said a police spokesperson, according to The Mirror. The Secret Service searched and cleared the car, and also assured that there was no ongoing threat. Nevertheless, the scene was no less than a political thriller for the locals.
People witnessing the scene stated that the Secret Service agents swarmed the White House, weapons at the ready, and also scanned every inch of the place. And concerning this accident, roads were immediately sealed off, and traffic ground to a halt across the northwest section of Washington DC.
“The lockdown was total,” said one local, watching flashing lights illuminate the historic estate. “It was tense — nobody knew what was happening.” No surprise that the social media erupted with real-time updates from stunned onlookers. “This is no small deal — looks like the security measures held firm, though. Hope everyone’s safe, and it’ll be interesting to see what unfolds with the investigation,” wrote one Washington resident on X platform. Some people held their calm and told others to “keep safe” as officers cordoned off the area.
From the clippings available on social media, it can be seen that the collision took place just south of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is one of the most important parts of the White House complex. It is a shelter to multiple senior staff and includes key government offices as well. Not to mention that the place is also among the most heavily guarded intersections in the country, but incidents like these happening here are not a new scene. Good thing is, that the Secret Service confirmed that no one was injured in the incident, but declined to comment on the suspect’s motives.
History Repeats Itself
Tuesday night’s crash comes less than a year after a similar, deadly incident, when another driver plowed into the White House gates and lost his life on impact. For many in DC, the deja vu is unsettling. “Two crashes in two years, that’s alarming,” said one local resident. “You think the White House is untouchable, but moments like this remind you how fragile things really are.” As investigators comb through evidence and review security footage, questions remain: Who was behind the wheel, and why target the most secure house in America?
