Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday identified an Afghan man who fled the Taliban as the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House, condemning the attack as an “act of terror.”
In a brief video statement, Trump linked the incident to three of the most politically charged issues confronting his administration: the deployment of military forces on US streets, immigration, and the aftermath of the war in Afghanistan.
The shooting, which left two Guard members in critical condition, occurred in broad daylight near a busy metro station just two blocks from the White House. Trump called the attack “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror,” adding, “It was a crime against our entire nation.”
The president confirmed that the suspect taken into custody was “a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan,” alleging that he arrived in 2021 “on those infamous flights” during the evacuation of Afghans after the Taliban’s takeover following the US withdrawal.
The brazen attack unfolded as downtown Washington’s offices and streets were filled with workers and commuters, intensifying scrutiny on Trump’s controversial strategy of deploying National Guard troops to bolster local law enforcement efforts. The administration has sent troops to several Democrat-run cities, including Washington, Los Angeles and Memphis—moves that have drawn lawsuits and accusations of overreach from local officials.
The incident also appears poised to fuel Trump’s aggressive immigration overhaul. “We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan” during Joe Biden’s administration, Trump said. “We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country. If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them.”
‘Ambushed’ at the Metro
Jeffery Carroll, assistant chief of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, described the attack as an ambush. “He came around the corner, raised his arm with a firearm and discharged at the National Guard members,” Carroll said.
FBI Director Kash Patel reported that both Guardsmen remained in “critical condition.” Trump said earlier on social media that the suspect was “also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price.”
journalist near the scene heard several loud pops before crowds fled in panic. “We were waiting at the traffic light and there were several shots,” said Angela Perry, 42, who was driving home with her two children. “You could see National Guard running toward the metro with their weapons drawn.”
Emergency responders converged within minutes. A Reporter correspondent saw medics racing a wheeled stretcher into the station and later emerging with a camouflage-clad casualty who was loaded into an ambulance. Armed officers secured the perimeter as a helicopter circled overhead.
Troop Presence Sparks New Debate
While federal buildings in Washington remain heavily guarded, many neighborhoods have long struggled with violent crime. Trump has argued that deploying Guard units is necessary to restore order in cities governed by Democrats. Critics, however, accuse him of using military force for political ends.
Following Wednesday’s shooting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that an additional 500 troops would be deployed to Washington, bringing the total to 2,500. The decision comes less than a week after a federal judge ruled Trump’s earlier deployment of thousands of Guard soldiers to the capital unlawful.
