US President Donald Trump has stepped up his criticism of the Biden administration’s resettlement policy after being questioned about Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House.
When asked about the attacker’s reported ties to the CIA, Trump said the individual “went (crazy or stupid), out of his mind” and claimed that such incidents happen “too often with these people.”
Trump linked the suspect’s presence in the country to broader problems with the 2021 “Operation Allies Welcome” program, claiming there was “no vetting or anything” on the Afghan nationals and claiming, “They came in unvetted.”
Former President Joe Biden launched Operation Allies Welcome in August 2021 to help vulnerable Afghans following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Taliban returned to power soon after the US withdrawal.
Trump went on to warn that “we have a lot more in this country. We’re going to get them out,” framing the case as part of what he described as systemic failures during the Afghan evacuation.
What happened between Trump and the reporter?
The exchange became tense when the reporter noted that Afghan arrivals had passed security checks after being withdrawn from Kabul. Trump denied this, insisting they were brought in “along with thousands of other people who shouldn’t be here.”
He then scolded the reporter saying, “Are you a stupid person?” and he repeated, “You only ask because you are a stupid person.”
As the political debate over the vetting intensified, Trump later announced that Sarah Beckstrom, one of two guardsmen shot in Wednesday’s attack, had died of her injuries while the other remained “fighting for her life.”
Calling Beckstrom a “highly respected, young, magnificent person,” he said he learned of her death just before joining a video call with U.S. troops on Thanksgiving Day.
He added that the surviving soldier was in a “very bad condition”.
“A second before I went on, I heard that Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia … a highly respected, young, magnificent person…” Trump said. “She just passed away. She’s no longer with us. She’s looking at us now. Her parents are with her. It just happened.”
The shooting happened Wednesday afternoon (local time) near 17th Street NW and I Street NW, near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses senior White House staff.
Trump later said in a statement that the attacker would face serious consequences. “The animal that shot two National Guardsmen is also seriously injured, but regardless, he will pay a very high price,” he said, adding, “God bless our Great National Guard and all of our military and law enforcement. I’m with you.”
Authorities have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021.
