Jonathan Tran, a 26-year-old man scaled the fence of the White House on Friday night and gained access to the complex’s south grounds before being arrested by a Secret Service agent.
The service said President Donald Trump was at the White House when the incident occurred.
It explained that the suspect was arrested without further incident.
The intruder was carrying a backpack and purportedly got close to the White House’s south portico residence entrance, near the Washington Monument.
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“No hazardous material was found inside the backpack, and a subsequent search of the complex grounds resulted in nothing of concern to security operations,” the Secret Service said.
The agency also said it had no record of the suspect.
Tran, who reportedly had a California driver’s license, told Secret Service officers that he was at the White House to see Trump.
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“No, I am a friend of the president. I have an appointment,” he said when approached by an officer.
Asked how he got there, the suspect told officers: “I jumped the fence”.
Trump has described Tran as a troubled person.
Trump, who made the remarks on Saturday, said he appreciated the Secret Service efforts and that the accused is disturbed.
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“The secret service did a fantastic job last night,” Trump said.
“He (the intruder) was a troubled person. It was very sad.”
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