US Secret Service agents shot a gunman near the White House, a spokesman said early on Sunday morning, adding that the man had been hospitalised and his condition was “unknown”.

President Donald Trump was not in the residence at the time, as he is spending the weekend in Florida.

The Secret Service received a tip on Saturday from local authorities that a suicidal person may be travelling to Washington from Indiana and the person’s car was found a block from the White House, it said in a statement.

The man brandished a firearm as officers approached him and shots were fired shortly after midnight local time.

He was taken to a nearby hospital.