Fact check: The White House was placed on lockdown on a Saturday after a gunman opened fire near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenu…

Verdict: verified — Trust Score 100/100

This post accurately reports on a shooting incident that occurred near the White House on Saturday, May 23, 2026. The details regarding the suspect (Nasire Best), his weapon (revolver), his claims of being Jesus Christ, the injury to a bystander, and President Trump's presence inside the building are all confirmed by 5 sources including CBS News, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press.

Platform
instagram
Source author
explainedfact — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYvDwvvCpne/?igsh=OW05NTRtbXRzcWc3
Verified on
May 26, 2026
Verification ID
nhbP3QKx_u_9nI--kabFvw

Original content reviewed

Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @explainedfact --- Caption/Description --- The White House was placed on lockdown Saturday after a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. According to reports, the suspect approached the area with a revolver and began shooting before Secret Service officers returned fire. The suspect later died at the hospital, while a bystander was also injured during the incident. 🚨 Officials said no Secret Service personnel were hurt, and President Trump was inside the White House at the time. Authorities also reported that the suspect had previously been known to law enforcement and had been ordered to stay away from the area. The shooting caused a rapid security response and briefly sent journalists and staff into shelter as investigators worked to secure the scene. 🏛️ --- On-Screen Text (OCR) --- GUNMAN WHO BELIEVED HE WAS JESUS CHRIST OPENED FIRE ON THE WHITE HOUSE Published: 2026-05-24T20:45:02.000Z ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @explainedfact --- Caption/Description --- The White House was placed on lockdown Saturday after a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. According to reports, the suspect approached the area with a revolver and began shooting before Secret Service officers returned fire. The suspect later died at the hospital, while a bystander was also injured during the incident. 🚨 Officials said no Secret Service personnel were hurt, and President Trump was inside the White House at the time. Authorities also reported that the suspect had previously been known to law enforcement and had been ordered to stay away from the area. The shooting caused a rapid security response and briefly sent journalists and staff into shelter as investigators worked to secure the scene. 🏛️ --- Visible Text/Media --- On-screen text overlay stating: 'GUNMAN WHO BELIEVED HE WAS JESUS CHRIST OP

Claims analyzed (6)

  1. verified: The White House was placed on lockdown on a Saturday after a gunman opened fire near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
    Multiple news outlets reported a shooting at 17th St and Pennsylvania Ave NW on Saturday, May 23, 2026, which triggered a lockdown of the White House complex.
  2. verified: A suspect armed with a revolver was shot by Secret Service officers and later died at the hospital.
    Law enforcement sources confirmed the suspect, Nasire Best, used a revolver and was fatally shot by Secret Service Uniformed Division officers. He died at George Washington University Hospital.
  3. verified: A bystander was injured during the shooting incident near the White House.
    The Secret Service and news reports confirmed that a male bystander was struck by gunfire during the exchange and was taken to a hospital in serious condition.
  4. verified: President Trump was inside the White House at the time of the shooting.
    Official statements from the Secret Service confirmed that President Donald Trump was inside the White House during the incident but was not harmed or impacted.
  5. verified: The suspect had previously been ordered by law enforcement to stay away from the White House area.
    Court records show that Nasire Best had been issued a 'Pretrial Stay Away Order' following a July 2025 arrest for attempting to enter the White House complex.
  6. verified: The gunman believed he was Jesus Christ.
    Multiple news reports and court documents from 2025 indicate that Nasire Best repeatedly claimed to be Jesus Christ during previous encounters with the Secret Service and on social media.

Sources consulted (9)

Related verifications

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