Trump Condemns Biden Administration After Fatal Shooting Near White House
Former US President Donald Trump has launched a fierce attack on the Biden administration's Afghan resettlement policies following a tragic shooting incident that resulted in the death of a National Guard soldier. The confrontation occurred when Trump was questioned about Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who stands accused of shooting two National Guard members close to the White House premises.
Tense Exchange With Reporter Over Security Vetting
The political discussion turned heated when a journalist challenged Trump's claims about security checks for Afghan arrivals. The reporter pointed out that individuals entering after the Kabul withdrawal had undergone proper security screening. Trump immediately dismissed this assertion, insisting they were brought in "along with thousands of other people that shouldn't be here."
During the intense back-and-forth, Trump confronted the reporter directly, asking "Are you a stupid person?" and repeating the accusation that "you're just asking questions because you're a stupid person." This exchange highlighted the deepening political divisions surrounding immigration and national security policies.
Trump Announces Soldier's Death and Vows Consequences
In a somber development during the political debate, Trump revealed that Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two Guardsmen shot in Wednesday's attack, had succumbed to her injuries. He described learning about her death just before participating in a Thanksgiving video call with US troops.
Trump memorialized Beckstrom as a "highly respected, young, magnificent person" from West Virginia and confirmed that her parents were with her when she passed away. The second soldier remains in critical condition, "fighting for his life" and described as being in "very bad shape."
The shooting incident took place on Wednesday afternoon near 17th Street NW and I Street NW, adjacent to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building that houses senior White House staff members.
Broader Criticism of Afghan Evacuation Programme
Trump connected the suspect's presence in the United States to wider concerns about Operation Allies Welcome, the programme initiated by former President Joe Biden in August 2021. This program was designed to assist at-risk Afghans following the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which subsequently led to the Taliban regaining control of the country.
Trump asserted that there had been "no vetting or anything" of Afghan nationals entering through this program, claiming "They came in unvetted." He further warned that "we have a lot of others in this country. We're going to get them out," framing the incident as evidence of systematic failures during the Afghan evacuation process.
When questioned about the attacker's alleged connections to the CIA, Trump remarked that the individual "went cuckoo, he went nuts," arguing that such incidents happened "too often with these people."
Authorities have identified the accused as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021. In his concluding statement, Trump promised severe consequences, declaring that "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price."
