According to Reuters, the U.S. Secret Service announced that from Wednesday night, the sidewalk in front of the South Gate of the White House will be permanently closed, and the public will not be allowed to enter and stay.
Since 2015, the sidewalk has been closed from 11 p.m. to 6 p.m., and is now closed 24/7.
Secret Service communications director Cathy Milhoan said the blockage was meant to "reduce the likelihood of an illegal visit to the White House."
On the evening of March 10 this year, a man carrying a backpack broke into the White House, was subdued by agents and arrested. Trump was in the White House at the time of the incident.
At that time, the man climbed over the wall into the open space south of the White House, but the agents did not find him at the first time. Later, when agents caught him, he claimed to be a friend of Trump's and had an appointment with the president.
After investigation by Washington police, the man was Jonathan Tran, 26, a native of Milpitas, California. His backpack and body contained two cans of tear gas, a passport, an Apple laptop, a Book by Mr. Trump and a letter to Mr. Trump.
The next day, Trump praised the Secret Service's security efforts, saying, "Well done! The man was mentally ill. ”
In recent years, the Secret Service has repeatedly upgraded white house security measures, including the installation of spikes on top of black iron fences.
The Secret Service said closing the sidewalk would not prevent the public from viewing or photographing the White House and would not add any additional "physical" obstacles.
The Secret Service also said the sidewalk north of the White House was also closed.