“Near White House Attack: Trump Labels Shooting of Guard Soldiers an ‘Act of Terror”

On 26 November 2025, two National Guard soldiers on patrol near 17th & I Streets NW — just blocks from the White House — were shot by a gunman in what law-enforcement officials describe as a “targeted, ambush-style attack.”
The suspect was subdued at the scene, also wounded, and taken into custody.
The attacker has been identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who reportedly entered the U.S. in 2021 under a previous refugee-resettlement program.

Trump described the shooting as “an act of terror,” “an act of evil, hatred and terror.”
He called the suspect “the animal” responsible for the attack and vowed that he “will pay a very steep price.”
In a wider political response, Trump said his administration would “re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan” — effectively signalling stricter scrutiny of Afghan refugees admitted previously.
He also ordered deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. to reinforce security after the shooting.

The attack has renewed sharp focus on U.S. immigration and asylum policies, especially concerning Afghan nationals admitted after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
For many, the shooting raises alarm about security in high-visibility zones — a rare occurrence so close to America’s most secure landmark.
The swift addition of more National Guard troops highlights the administration’s resolve to “secure the capital,” but also underscores tension over the ongoing use of military troops for domestic patrols — a controversial policy.

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