President Donald Trump was abruptly removed from the Briefing Room on Monday during a daily session with reporters because of a shooting near the White House.

The president was in the middle of his opening statement when an aide came to his side and took him off podium. Trump returned after a few moments and reported that there had been a shooting outside the White House.

"There was a shooting. It was law enforcement shot someone, it seems to be the suspect. And the suspect is now on the way to the hospital," Trump said.

Secret Service shot the suspect outside the fence, near the White House, he said.

"You were surprised, I was surprised also," Trump said.

Trump, who said he was taken to the Oval Office, said he wasn't aware of the reason for the shooting. The shooting took place 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, about a block northwest of the White House, the Secret Service said, noting that agents rendered aid.

"It might not have had anything to do with me," Trump said.

Asked if he was rattled by the experience, Trump responded: "Do I seem rattled?"

Lock downs at the White House are relatively common and can happen for nearby shooters, breaches of the White House perimeter and even bags abandoned nearby. But it is rare for lockdowns to occur when the president is on stage.

Reporters inside the White House indicated the building was on lock down.

Trump professed little worry about his own safety.

"The world has always been a dangerous place," Trump said. "That's nothing new."