Access to the White House was temporarily restricted after a small intruder triggered the complex’s security system.
On Tuesday, the Secret Service apprehended a toddler who slipped through the fence on the north side of the White House.
In a statement shared with Fox News, Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Gugliemli said, “The Secret Service Uniformed Division today encountered a curious young visitor along the White House north fence line who briefly entered White House grounds.”
“The White House security systems instantly triggered Secret Service officers and the toddler and parents were quickly reunited,” he added.
A toddler on Tuesday earned the title of one of the tiniest White House intruders after he squeezed through the metal fencing on the north side of the executive mansion.https://t.co/66gzb58lSg
— Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela) April 18, 2023
Fox News reported, “Officers briefly questioned the parents before allowing the family to continue on their way.”
The Associated Press’ Seung Min Kim tweeted the toddler was the “cutest little White House intruder.”
The cutest little White House intruder (with photo by @nbenac!) https://t.co/oqqtnSSnK5
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) April 18, 2023
“One trick to making it past the White House fence: be a toddler,” wrote Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove.
One trick to making it past the White House fence: be a toddler.https://t.co/FzFoVCcbMN
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 18, 2023
Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich tweeted, “The littlest perp walk of all time.”
The littlest perp walk of all time ? https://t.co/yxkpIwqkqj
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) April 18, 2023
Politico’s Lara Korte, tweeted, “The best thing I’ll read today!!!”
the best thing I'll read today!!! https://t.co/UAxVSIwecE
— Lara Korte (@lara_korte) April 18, 2023
This is not the first incident involving a child and the White House fence.
Fox News notes, “Tiny intruders were reported in April 2015 and in August of 2014 and older children have sometimes become stuck there.”
However, it is possibly the first successful intrusion since the fence’s height was increased to 13 feet. While the height increased, the space between the pickets also increased by an inch to 5 ½ inches.
