US President Donald Trump condemned yesterday’s shooting of two National Guard members near the White House as a “terrorist act” and pledged to toughen immigration policies further.
In a nearly five-minute address, Trump confirmed the suspect, now in custody, entered the US from Afghanistan in 2021. “The suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan,” brought here by the Biden administration in September 2021, Trump said from Florida, where he spent Thanksgiving.
He added that his administration must now “review” the files of all Afghans who immigrated during Biden’s term.
Shortly after, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on X that it had halted processing of all Afghan immigration applications indefinitely.
Trump lashed out at immigration, calling it the “greatest threat to national security” and accusing his predecessor of bringing in “millions” of foreigners.
“The beast who did this will pay very dearly,” he stressed.
“God bless our wonderful National Guard, as well as all our military and law enforcement. They are truly great people. I, as President of the United States, and everyone connected to the Office of the President, stand with you!”
He described the incident as a “satanic act,” an “act of hate,” a “terrorist act,” a “crime against our entire people,” and a “crime against humanity.”
The German news agency DPA notes, however, that the facts do not support the last characterisation. The term “crime against humanity” refers to a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population pursuant to or in furtherance of a state or organisational policy, as defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court – not isolated incidents.
Targeted shooting in downtown Washington
The attack occurred yesterday afternoon in central Washington, where hundreds of National Guard troops have deployed since August. They conduct foot patrols on Trump’s orders, despite opposition from local Democratic authorities.
Authorities reported the two soldiers remain in critical condition. Trump commented earlier on Truth Social that “the animal” who shot them is also in critical condition but “will pay dearly.”
This marks the worst attack on the National Guard since units deployed to Democratic-led cities earlier this year.
Around 14:15 local time (21:15 Cyprus time), the suspect “arrived at a street corner, raised his weapon, and fired at the National Guardsmen” on patrol, said Jeffrey Carroll, a Metropolitan Police officer, during a press conference. He described the perpetrator as acting “alone.”
Other guardsmen subdued, pinned him down, and arrested him, Carroll added.
The shots were “targeted,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser noted at the same briefing.
The two soldiers remain in “critical condition,” FBI Director Kash Patel emphasised before cameras, clarifying earlier confusion about their status.
Patrick Morrisey, governor of West Virginia where the two guardsmen served, initially posted on X that they had succumbed to their injuries but later retracted it.
Washington police stated they have no information on a motive so far.
The White House blamed the Democratic opposition for “demonising” the military, as it has sharply criticised the deployments and accused Trump of overreach.
At the scene – in a neighbourhood of mainly office buildings, two streets from the White House – AFP journalists saw a uniformed man carried away on a stretcher.
Eyewitness account
Mohamed Elkatabi had just visited the White House with his family when he saw the area “fill up with police and vehicles speeding by.” He witnessed two stretchers being transported.
His six-year-old son “learns history at school,” but yesterday he saw “history being written live” in the United States of America, a country indelibly marked by political assassinations, political violence, and gun crimes.
Broader context of tension
The shooting occurred amid extreme tension in the US. In early September, conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, a Trump ally and youth propagandist, was assassinated. Trump himself narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during his 2024 campaign.
In recent months, Trump ordered National Guard deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, and Memphis, overriding local opposition – all three cities led by Democrats. He claimed the measure was necessary to combat crime and support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced yesterday that 500 more troops would deploy to Washington, bringing the total to over 2,500.
Trump confirmed he ordered the reinforcements.
The Washington municipality had sued to withdraw the National Guard. A court ruled in its favour last week but suspended enforcement for 21 days until 11 December, allowing the federal government to appeal.
The moment of the arrest
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