An intruder with a backpack was arrested after breaching the White House grounds while US President Donald Trump was there, US media said Saturday.

After scaling a fence, the suspect was arrested by the US Secret Service after the late Friday incident in the nation’s capital, according to the Washington Post.

The paper said authorities did not find dangerous materials inside the backpack following a screening. The grounds of the presidential complex were also deemed safe.

Trump, who is spending the weekend in Washington, was in the White House at the time and was appraised of the situation, CNN said. (AFP)