There was a real shooting and someone was taken to the hospital. I don't know that person's condition, NBC quoted Donald Trump as saying to reporters after returning to the White House about nine minutes later.
The US president added that the suspect was shot. According to him, no one else was injured in the incident, but he understood the suspect to be armed.
The shooting, according to Donald Trump, occurred near the White House fence.
Law enforcement later said that an unidentified man had been shot in the chest by a regular security guard. Officials did not say why the man was shot or whether he was armed.
The man who was shot was taken to George Washington University Hospital in a state of unconsciousness, according to officials.
The US Secret Service issued a statement confirming that there was an officer involved in the shooting on 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Law enforcement officers are present at the scene.
The US Secret Service is the unit responsible for protecting the president and his family. The agency said more information will be disclosed.
The White House meeting room was immediately cordoned off after President Donald Trump left, a report said. The press conference was interrupted almost immediately after an assistant came close to the president and apparently told the president that he would have to leave.
Donald Trump followed his assistant out of the room and to the Oval Office, he said.
The US president said he was not shocked by the incident after returning to the press conference room.
"The world is like that, when looking back at the past centuries, the world has been a dangerous place, a very dangerous place" - he said. After that, the US leader informed about the economic situation and answered a series of questions about the fireworks discharge, the stock market...
