While we had grown somewhat used to seeing horrific self-immolation scenes across various authoritarian regimes in Asia, the US Secret Service confirmed that a man has set himself on fire a short distance away from the White House today.

At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid. — U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) May 29, 2019

The horrific scene was caught by passers-by...

@FoxNews Video of the person that was literally engulfed in flames on the #WhiteHouse lawn. Unbelievable pic.twitter.com/4IS37Rndme — Krisjan Berzins (@KrisjanBerzins) May 29, 2019

Jesus Christ. This guy set himself on fire outside the White House. pic.twitter.com/IIXAoGS6ia — Mariaaaa (@bedolla_maria) May 29, 2019

A Washington Fire Department (WFD) spokesperson said that they had “transported one patient with burns” and were assisting law enforcement.