The US Secret Service will carry out an investigation after a man jumped over the White House's north fence and made it through the front door of the presidential residence.
According to report, Barack Obama and his daughters had just left the mansion on board the Marine One helicopter bound for Camp David when the breach occurred.
Much of the presidential residence was evacuated following the security alert shortly after 7pm on Friday at one of the world's most highly protected buildings.
Video from the scene showed a man making it most of the way across the North Lawn and approaching the main entrance to the presidential residence. The Secret Service confirmed an intruder had jumped the fence and was apprehended just inside the North Portico doors.
White House staffers and some journalists inside the West Wing were led out by Secret Service officers, some with their weapons drawn.
Those evacuated were allowed back in about half an hour later.
First Lady Michelle Obama had travelled separately to the presidential retreat in Maryland and was not at home.
Although it is not uncommon for people to make it over the White House fence, they are typically stopped almost immediately and rarely get very far.
The Secret Service identified the suspect as 42-year-old Omar J Gonzalez from Copperas Cove, Texas.
He was charged with unlawful entry into the White House complex and was taken to a nearby hospital complaining of chest pain.
The Secret Service said the incident would be carefully reviewed to ensure proper protocols were followed.
Spokesman Ed Donovan said: "This situation was a little different than other incidents we have at the White House.
"There will be a thorough investigation into the incident."
The incident was the latest setback for an elite agency whose reputation has been hit in recent years.
In 2012, 13 Secret Service agents and officers were implicated in a prostitution scandal during preparations for Obama's trip to Cartagena, Colombia.
The next year, two officers were removed from the president's detail after another alleged incident of sexually-related misconduct.
And in March, an agent was found drunk by staff at a Dutch hotel the day before Obama was set to arrive in the Netherlands.
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