White House Shooter Was Mentally Ill, Believed He Was "Actually" Jesus

Nasire Best, the 21-year-old man shot and killed by Secret Service agents outside the White House on Saturday, had previously drawn attention from law enforcement after claiming he was Jesus Christ and repeatedly approaching the White House complex, according to court records.

The Secret Service said agents opened fire after Best approached a checkpoint outside the White House and began shooting at officers. A bystander was also hit in the exchange of fire. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time and was unharmed.

Court records show Best had previous encounters with the Secret Service last summer. An affidavit said he was “known to the Secret Service” for walking around the White House complex and asking how to gain access through various entry points.

On June 26, 2025, Best was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital after allegedly obstructing vehicle access to part of the White House complex, according to the court documents.

Less than three weeks later, on July 10, Best allegedly ignored warning signs and entered a restricted area outside the White House. Multiple officers confronted him, and according to the affidavit, he told them he was Jesus Christ and said he wanted to be arrested.

Social media accounts linked to Best also included religious claims and apparent threats. In one post, he wrote, “I’m actually the son of God.” Another post appeared to threaten violence against Trump.

The backstory is expected to intensify scrutiny over how Best was able to return to the White House area despite prior incidents, apparent delusional religious claims and earlier Secret Service contact. The shooting remains under investigation.