On November 26, 2025, two members of the U.S. National Guard — deployed in Washington, D.C. — were shot near the Farragut West station, only two blocks from the White House. It is reported this was a brazen ambush, described by local law enforcement as a “targeted shooting.”
The alleged gunman, identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal — who, according to U.S. authorities, entered the country in 2021 — is now in custody, wounded during a return-fire exchange.
Statements and Reactions — From the President to Immigration Policy
In a video statement following the attack, Donald J. Trump condemned the shooting as “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.” He framed it as “a crime against our entire nation” and “a crime against humanity.”
Trump went further: he used the incident to call for a sweeping reevaluation of immigration and asylum protocols — especially concerning Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. in the aftermath of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to him and his administration, the shooting “underscores the single greatest national security threat” facing the nation.
In response, the administration announced an indefinite halt to processing new immigration requests from Afghan nationals, pending a full review of vetting procedures.
What We Know — And What Remains Murky
- The attack: The shooting occurred during a scheduled patrol — the Guard members were part of a “high-visibility patrol” in downtown Washington.
- The victims: The two Guardsmen, male and female, reportedly remain in critical condition at local hospitals.
- The suspect: Lakanwal allegedly came into the U.S. under the 2021 Afghan evacuation/resettlement program. He applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted it in April 2025.
- Motive: Unknown. Authorities say they are still investigating. What is clear: law enforcement describes it as a “targeted ambush.”
That uncertainty — about motive, and about how and why this happened — is part of what makes this incident so chilling.
Bigger Picture: Security, Immigration, National Trajectories
This shooting doesn’t occur in isolation. It comes against a backdrop where the Guard had already been deployed to Washington earlier this year under a sweeping federalization of the city’s law-enforcement — a controversial move by the Trump administration, justified as a crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.
Now, with violence striking near the seat of American power, the consequences may be significant. Already, demands are growing for stricter immigration controls, more aggressive vetting, and blame placed on previous policy decisions. But this attack also raises deeper questions: about security vs. liberty; about how governments balance humanitarian commitments and national safety; about whether this will lead to real policy reform — or to fear-driven reactionism.
A Call for Clarity, Justice — and Reflection
What’s crucial now is transparency. Authorities and investigators must move swiftly — to gather facts, to reveal motive, to safeguard against further attacks. But just as essential is a broader conversation: one that balances legitimate concerns over security with respect for human dignity, justice, the immigrant experience.
Because if there’s one thing this act shows — once again — it is that violence, fear, and tragedy can come even to the most heavily guarded streets. How America responds will define not just its security, but its soul.
📚 Verified reporting & media coverage
- Reuters — “Two National Guard soldiers shot in ‘targeted’ attack near White House” Reuters
- ABC News — “National Guard shooting ‘act of evil,’ Trump says; suspect ID’d as Afghan national” ABC News+1
- The Guardian — “National Guard shooting: Trump says US should ‘re-examine’ all Afghan refugees after suspect named” The Guardian+2The Guardian+2
- Al Jazeera — “Washington DC shooting live: 2 National Guard troops hurt, suspect detained” Al Jazeera
- AP News — “Trump says lax migration policies are top national-security threat after National Guard members shot” AP News
- Dawn.com (summarizing AFP/Reuters) — “2 National Guard soldiers shot near White House; Trump terms incident ‘act of terror’” Dawn
National Guard soldiers shot in ‘targeted’ attack near White House
National Guard shooting ‘act of evil,’ Trump says; suspect ID’d as Afghan national
National Guard shooting: Trump says US should ‘re-examine’ all Afghan refugees after suspect named
Washington DC shooting live: 2 National Guard troops hurt, suspect detained
Trump says lax migration policies are top national security threat after National Guard members shot
Trump requests 500 more National Guard troops to DC after shooting
