Former U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the shooting that occurred Wednesday near the White House in Washington, D.C., which left two National Guard members injured. Trump described the incident as an “act of terrorism” and accused the Biden administration of allowing the attacker into the country without proper screening.
Trump stated that the suspect—who reportedly arrived from Afghanistan in 2021—was among what he called “millions” admitted to the United States “without vetting” under President Joe Biden. He warned that such immigration policies pose “the greatest threat to national security,” vowing to re-examine the records of all Afghans who entered during Biden’s term.
The shooting happened in a busy area just two blocks from the White House, where hundreds of National Guard troops have been deployed since August to conduct foot patrols. The deployment was authorized by Trump despite objections from local Democratic authorities.
Speaking from Florida during the Thanksgiving holiday, Trump said the attacker was “an Afghan brought here by the Biden administration in September 2021,” adding that he would face “swift and certain justice” unless the gunshot he suffered proved fatal. Trump asserted, “We will not tolerate assaults on law and order from individuals who should not be in our country.”
Trump announced that he had directed an additional 500 troops to be deployed to Washington, bringing the total number of National Guard members in the capital to more than 2,500.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the two injured soldiers were in serious condition and that the suspect had also sustained severe wounds. He referred to the attacker as an “animal” who would “pay a heavy price.”
According to Washington Police official Jeffrey Carroll, the suspect approached a street corner, pulled out a weapon, and opened fire on the National Guard members before being subdued and arrested by other troops at the scene.
U.S. media outlets reported additional details: CBS News confirmed the suspect is a 29-year-old Afghan national, while NBC News quoted a relative saying he served for ten years in the Afghan Army, including alongside U.S. Special Operations forces, before immigrating to the United States.
This incident marks the most serious attack on National Guard personnel since Trump ordered their deployment to several Democrat-led cities at the start of his second term in January.
Meanwhile, the White House accused Democrats of “demonizing” the troops by criticizing their deployment and accusing Trump of overstepping his authority. For his part, Trump defended the expanded military presence in cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, arguing that these measures are essential to fighting crime and illegal immigration.
