Trump Blames Biden Policies After National Guard Soldier Dies in DC Shooting
- A West Virginia National Guard member has died and another remains critical following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi is seeking the death penalty for the suspect who previously worked with the CIA and US forces.
- The Trump administration is using the attack to justify a massive review of Afghan refugee status and Green Cards.
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| Photo by Pau Casals on Unsplash |
A violent attack near the White House has turned fatal and ignited a fierce political firestorm in Washington. President Donald Trump confirmed that a member of the West Virginia National Guard has died from injuries sustained during the shooting. The incident has immediately shifted from a security crisis to a referendum on immigration policy. Trump wasted no time in blaming the Biden administration for the tragedy.
The fallen soldier was identified as Sarah Beckstrom. She was just 20 years old and hailed from Webster Springs in West Virginia. She passed away on Wednesday after fighting for her life. Her colleague is Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe. He remains in critical condition. Trump described Wolfe's situation as dire during a call with military personnel. The President noted that the 24-year-old is fighting hard to survive but the outlook remains uncertain.
Federal authorities have identified the shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The 29-year-old suspect is an Afghan national who arrived in the United States in 2021. His background complicates the narrative significantly. Lakanwal previously worked with US forces and the CIA in Afghanistan before the American withdrawal. Police arrested him shortly after the attack. The revelation of his past service has raised serious questions about the vetting procedures used during the evacuation.
The legal response from the administration has been swift and severe. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she intends to seek the death penalty against Lakanwal. This decision comes directly in the wake of Beckstrom's death. Federal agents have simultaneously launched a massive terrorism investigation. This probe spans the entire country and has already triggered searches in Washington state and California.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance are using this incident to dismantle the immigration legacy of Joe Biden. They argue that the previous administration failed to properly screen refugees during the chaotic exit from Kabul. The White House is now moving to halt immigration reviews for Afghans. They are also ordering a retrospective audit of those who are already in the country. This puts thousands of Afghan allies who resettled in the US at risk of losing their residency.
The President addressed the issue from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. He criticized the evacuation flights that brought asylum seekers to American soil without what he deems sufficient checks. Trump acknowledged the legal difficulty of deporting individuals once they have been processed. However he vowed to remove anyone considered a threat regardless of the logistical challenges. His rhetoric suggests a zero-tolerance approach is now in effect.
USCIS Chief Joseph Edlow has begun implementing these directives. He announced a rigorous re-examination of Green Cards held by foreign nationals from specific countries of concern. This effectively opens the door to stripping residency status from legal immigrants. Trump emphasized that this crime serves as a grim reminder for the nation. He insisted that total control over who enters and remains in the United States is the highest national security priority.