The White House. AP An intruder carrying a backpack entered the White House grounds and was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents at an entrance near the president's residence, CNN reported on Saturday morning, citing an unnamed source.

The intruder reportedly told Secret Service agents he was a "friend" of President Donald Trump, and that he had an appointment to see the president, reports CNN's Jeff Zeleny.

However, it was nearly midnight at the time the intruder was apprehended.

The intruder was arrested and his backpack was searched and found to contain two cans of mace, according to CNN.

"Following established protocols, the south and north grounds of the White House complex were searched by Secret Service Uniformed Division officers," The Secret Service said in a statement on Saturday morning. "Nothing of concern to security operations was found."