The safety of our elected officials is paramount, and it’s always concerning to hear about close calls in Washington D.C.
Elected officials are constantly in the public eye and we’ve seen unprecedented pushback against politicians. Some of that pushback has been downright scary, and many lawmakers are frequently concerned.
So, when you hear about a breach of security at the White House, you’re inclined to believe the worst.
But this time, the “intruder” didn’t have any agenda, or any axe to grind with the politicos in D.C. He didn’t bear any ill will toward anyone, really.
In fact, he was just curious — as most kids are at that age.
According to an Associated Press report, White House authorities caught the little trespasser who had managed to squeeze through the north side fence. He then proceeded to take a little stroll.
Via The Daily Caller:
A toddler snuck through the White House fence on the north side Tuesday, prompting the Secret Service to retrieve the child.
Secret Service Uniformed Division officers walked across the North Lawn and retrieved the little intruder running across the property. Access to the complex was briefly restricted until the officers reunited the child with its parents.
Secret Service officers walked across the lawn today to help a child who crawled through the White House fence.
This is an example of normal lawful behavior when someone who appears to pose no threat accidentally comes on your property. https://t.co/8gJxPYKpzG
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 18, 2023
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Gugliemli said that “White House security systems instantly triggered Secret Service officers and the toddler and parents were quickly reunited.”
This actually isn’t the first time it’s happened, either.
Back in 2014, a toddler slipped through the 13-foot fence just before then-President Barack Obama addressed the nation on Iraq. Then another kid managed to sneak onto the grounds in April 2015.
Since 2019, the National Park Service and Secret Service have doubled the size of the fence to stop this from happening.
The fence now only offers about 5.5 inches of space between each picket, which has been successful in keeping out older kids and protesters. Less than half a foot is tough to squeeze through, after all.
But this tiny intruder obviously made it through, and he must’ve given his parents quite the scare.
At least Secret Service agents had something to talk about that day, though. And maybe this little guy will set the record for the smallest trespasser in White House history.
Has anyone measured him to see if he’s really the smallest? If so, the kid will have a claim to fame for the rest of his life … or at least he’ll be the coolest kid in school for a while.
Key Takeaways:
- Secret Service apprehended a tiny “intruder” on the White House North Lawn.
- A toddler managed to squeeze through the fence and set off across the grass.
- The fence gaps had been narrowed to stop this from happening, after two other kids slipped through back in 2014 and 2015.
Source: The Daily Caller
