Trump condemns DC shooting, says suspect came from Afghanistan

Washington DC: Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot just a few blocks from the White House on Wednesday in what authorities described as a targeted attack. Both soldiers were taken to separate hospitals and remain in critical condition. An initial statement from the West Virginia governor’s office mistakenly reported that the troops had died, before clarifying that conflicting medical updates were being received.

Law enforcement officials cited by multiple US outlets said the suspect was also shot, sustaining injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, and was later taken into custody. Surveillance footage is now being reviewed, and early indications suggest the attacker approached one of the soldiers and opened fire, prompting at least one soldier to return gunfire.

US President Donald Trump condemned the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, DC, describing the attack as a “monstrous ambush-like” assault carried out just steps from the White House. Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said the soldiers were shot “at point blank range” on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, calling the incident “a heinous assault” and “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.”

Trump said the attack was both “a crime against our entire nation” and “a crime against humanity,” and expressed support for the victims and their families. He said, “The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginia National Guard and their families.”

The President said he was “determined to ensure that the animal who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price.” He added that, based on the information available at the time, the Department of Homeland Security was “confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan, a hell on our earth.” Trump claimed the individual “was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021 on those infamous flights that everybody was talking about.”

Trump also expressed support for the victims and the broader security community, saying, “God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you.”

Later in the evening, Trump said the Department of Homeland Security “is confident” that the suspect in custody “is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan — a hell hole on earth,” and claimed the individual “was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021.”

Law enforcement updates

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser described the attack as a “targeted shooting.” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that both injured soldiers were hospitalised in critical condition, and investigators were analysing security footage to trace the suspect’s movements.

Multiple law enforcement officials told CNN that the suspect appears to be a man from Washington state who immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan in 2021. Officials have not yet released further details about the suspect’s background or any possible affiliations.

Additional National Guard deployment and legal backdrop

Following the shooting, President Trump ordered an additional 500 National Guard members to be deployed to Washington, DC, as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, the administration asked a federal appeals court for an emergency stay of a ruling issued last week, in which a judge declared the earlier National Guard deployment in the capital unlawful. The appeal seeks permission to maintain personnel in the city while legal proceedings continue.

Ongoing investigation

Authorities said they remain in close communication with federal and state agencies as the investigation advances. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said his office was “in ongoing contact with federal officials” while awaiting full clarity on the case.

Investigators are examining ballistic evidence, reviewing nearby surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events leading to the attack. Early reports indicate the suspect approached one of the soldiers directly before shots were exchanged. Officials have not yet announced a potential motive.