Another close call at the White House.
Shortly after 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21-year-old Nasir Best approached uniformed Secret Service officers near the White House, pulled out a revolver, and opened fire. The officers returned fire immediately, striking Best and ending the threat. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead.
A bystander was also hit during the exchange. Their condition has not been released. No officers were injured.
Best had a documented history of mental illness and believed he was Jesus Christ. He was already known to the Secret Service — he had previously violated a court order to stay away from the White House.
The entire area was locked down while the threat was cleared, and members of the press were moved inside until it was safe.
Here’s video from the scene showing ABC News correspondent Selina Wang diving for cover as the gunfire erupted:
Video:
I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots. It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now. pic.twitter.com/iqdQwh4soq
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) May 23, 2026
What makes this even more disturbing is what investigators found on Best’s TikTok account. He had posted videos celebrating the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, claiming that if he had been behind the shooter, “it would have been a whole different story.” He also posted content about the Malcolm X assassination.
Videos:
These were clear red flags that were apparently ignored. A man with known mental health issues and a court order to stay away from the White House was still able to get a gun and get dangerously close to the President’s residence.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the FBI is on scene assisting with the investigation.
President Trump responded quickly, praising the Secret Service for their rapid and decisive action:
“They’re not playing games protecting our President and our country. While the media stays silent, Trump is making it clear: the most secure White House in history is coming. God bless our Secret Service, our Law Enforcement, and our President. We will not be shaken.”
This is the second incident in roughly a month involving a gunman near the White House. The question on everyone’s mind is how someone with this kind of documented history was able to obtain a firearm in Washington, D.C. — a city with some of the strictest gun laws in the country.
It’s another reminder that “gun-free zones” and heavy firearm restrictions often fail to keep dangerous people disarmed while leaving law-abiding citizens vulnerable. Many are also pointing out that the return of proper mental health institutions (asylums) could have prevented tragedies like this by getting people like Best the help they desperately needed instead of letting them roam the streets untreated.
The Secret Service once again proved they are the best in the world at protecting the President. But the bigger issue is why obvious warning signs keep being ignored until it’s almost too late.
America cannot afford to keep looking the other way on mental illness and threat assessment. Stronger intervention, better screening, and real accountability are long overdue.
Our thoughts are with the injured bystander and the officers who acted decisively to protect the President and the public.
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