Politics

Trump pulled out of presser after shooting outside White House

Washington, Aug 10 (efe-epa).- US President Donald Trump was ushered out of the White House briefing room while talking to reporters Monday after shots were fired outside the Executive Mansion.

The president was just a few minutes into his daily press conference on the coronavirus pandemic when a Secret Service approached the podium and told Trump he needed to accompany him out of the room.

“Excuse me?” Trump said as the agent approached.

“Step outside,” the agent said. “Oh,” Trump replied before exiting the briefing room followed by the Secret Service man and several top officials who had joined him for the press confluence, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

The president returned to the podium about 10 minutes later and explained the reason for his sudden departure.

“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,” he said.

Some of the reporters who were in the briefing room said that they were not allowed to leave.

“There was an actual shooting and somebody’s been taken to the hospital,” Trump said. “It was the suspect who was shot.”

Shortly after the president resumed the press conference, the Secret Service issued a brief statement on Twitter.

“The Secret Service can confirm there has been an officer involved shooting at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. Law enforcement officials are on the scene,” the tweet said.

One journalist asked Trump whether the incident had “rattled” him.

“I don’t know. Do I seem rattled?,” the president replied. “The world’s always been a dangerous place. It’s not something that’s unique. You look back over the centuries, the world has been a dangerous place, very dangerous place, and it will continue, I guess, for a period of time.”

In late May, disturbances in Washington over the police killing of George Floyd prompted the Secret Service to briefly evacuate Trump to a secure bunker in the White House. EFE at/dr

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