Trump returned a few minutes later to say the situation was in control and thanked his guards.

"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," the US President said after he returned to brief the press.

"I feel very safe with the Secret Service. They're fantastic people. They're the best of the best. They're highly trained," Trump said, adding, "They just wanted me to step aside for a little while just to make sure that everything was clear outside."

According to a statement by the US Secret Service, a 51-year-old man approached an Officer at 17th Street Northwest and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest near the White House.

"The suspect approached the officer and told the officer he had a weapon. The suspect then turned around, ran aggressively toward the officer, and in a drawing motion, withdrew an object from his clothing," the statement read.

"He then crouched into a shooter's stance as if about to fire a weapon. The Secret Service officer discharged his weapon striking the individual in the torso."

According to the US President, the person did not breach anything.