Secret Service Swarm As Man Climbs Over White House Fence

A man was taken into custody by the U.S. Secret Service near the White House after scaling an exterior fence on the South Grounds.

The incident took place on February 3 at around 4:20 p.m. and was recorded on video by a witness, David Stanley. In a post on X, Stanley stated that the man walked past him, shouted, “F*** it,” and proceeded to climb the fence.

Authorities have not yet released the suspect’s identity, and it remains unclear if any charges will be filed. David Stanley is credited for capturing the video.

According to Stanley, rooftop snipers were “scurrying around,” and K9 units rushed across the lawn as Secret Service officers responded to the breach.

Following the climb, officers apprehended the individual. At this time, the Secret Service has not provided any details about the suspect’s identity or the motive behind the fence-scaling.

The White House complex, which spans 18 acres, is protected by mission support personnel, uniformed officers, special agents, and advanced security systems.

Per Secret Service procedures, the agency will assess its protective measures in relation to this event, including security protocols and response tactics. Whether the suspect will face charges is still undetermined.

Note: Video contains some profanity

WATCH:

An independent panel that examined the July assassination attempt against then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, determined that the Secret Service has “deep flaws” that enabled the attack.

The panel also advocated for “fundamental reform” within the agency to ensure the protection of top government officials worldwide.

In a letter signed by all four members, the independent review panel revealed it had found “numerous mistakes” throughout its investigation of the attempted assassination. Additionally, the panel identified “deeper systemic issues that must be addressed with urgency.”

“The Secret Service as an agency requires fundamental reform to carry out its mission,” the panel members wrote. “Without that reform, the Independent Review Panel believes another Butler can and will happen again.”

The panel dedicated its findings to Corey Comperatore, who lost his life in the shooting, as well as James Copenhaver and David Dutch, who sustained injuries, and their families.

“These actions will be responsive not only to the security failures that led to the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt but, importantly, to what the Independent Review Panel describes as systemic and foundational issues that underlie those failures,” the members stated.

Among its concerns, the panel highlighted a “troubling lack of critical thinking” among Secret Service personnel in the lead-up to and aftermath of the attack, “corrosive cultural attitudes” regarding resources, and a “lack of clarity” over who holds security authority at a protectee’s location.

Additionally, the report criticized Secret Service leadership, citing an “insufficiently experienced-based approach” by Trump’s security detail in selecting agents for critical protective roles. The panel also pointed to a failure to take responsibility for security planning and execution at the Butler rally.

These failures “reveal deep flaws in the Secret Service, including some that appear to be systemic or cultural,” the report stated.

To address the identified issues, the panel recommended appointing new leadership with experience outside the agency and refocusing on the Secret Service’s “core protective mission.”

“The Secret Service must be the world’s leading governmental protective organization,” the report asserted. “The events at Butler on July 13 demonstrate that, currently, it is not.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has nominated Sean Curran, the head of his personal Secret Service detail, to lead the agency.

Curran, one of the agents who quickly acted to shield Trump during the July 13 assassination attempt, had already been a frontrunner for the position.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Curran’s appointment an “honor.”