Gunman Killed Outside the White House

Audio By Carbonatix

On Saturday, May 23rd, 21-year-old Nasire Best of Maryland fired gunshots just after 6 p.m. ET near the White House in Washington, D.C. With some hearing between 20 and 30 shots fired, the attack prompted a lockdown by the Secret Service.

President Donald Trump and staff were inside during the time of the shots, but were still instructed to take safety precautions. While the cause of the attack is still being investigated, The Christian Post reported that Trump posted a status update “on Truth Social about the deal he's negotiating with Iran, following his call with Gulf State and Middle East leaders, saying: "Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly."

Since the shooting, officials have reported that Best was already known as a threat to both the Secret Service and the President. While he’d already been given orders to stay away from the White House grounds as a result of violating previous court orders in July of 2025 (WUSA9), that didn’t stop him from this most recent attack.

On Tuesday, May 26th, The Christian Post added that the shooter was described as “mentally troubled.” Claiming to be Jesus Christ himself (CNN), Best “fired several shots before federal officers shot and killed him on Saturday evening near a White House checkpoint. A bystander was struck during the exchange of gunfire.”

Despite his mental health issues, Best was an active track and field athlete who graduated from Dundalk High School in 2023. According to CBS News Baltimore, Best’s friends saw minor changes in his behavior, but nothing that would make them suspect this type of crime.

“People keep trying to say he was trying to do something to Trump, but honestly, I never heard him say anything bad about Trump,” another friend said. “He actually supported Trump.”

Related Article

Second White House Shooting in Less Than Ten Days

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Rene Deanda

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.