Shafaq News – Washington (Updated at 08:57)
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump condemned the Thanksgiving Eve shooting that left two National Guard members critically wounded near the White House, calling it a “terrorist crime” and announcing the deployment of 500 additional Guard personnel to reinforce security in the capital.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the attacker an “animal” who “will pay a very steep price.”
Speaking from Florida, Trump said the attack “was an act of evil and hatred” and urged federal agencies to identify the suspect’s motives and ensure accountability. US media reported that the two wounded service members were part of the Guard units stationed in Washington since August as part of heightened security measures.
Authorities say the suspected gunman is a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, the program that resettled tens of thousands of Afghans following the withdrawal from Kabul. The suspect was also hospitalized after being wounded in the exchange of fire. Police said no additional suspects are being sought.
Trump said he ordered a review of immigration files for individuals admitted during the previous administration, adding that federal agencies would take “all necessary steps” to strengthen vetting procedures. Shortly afterward, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it would pause processing of immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a reassessment of security protocols.
In remarks released on social media, Trump said the attack underscored the need to re-evaluate migration policies and pledged that those responsible would be brought to justice “swiftly and firmly.”
Advocacy groups cautioned against drawing broad conclusions about Afghan evacuees, noting that tens of thousands underwent multiple rounds of security screening during the 2021 evacuation. “This incident should not be used to cast doubt on people who followed legal pathways,” said Shawn VanDiver, president of the #AfghanEvac coalition.
The FBI continues to investigate the shooting and has not yet announced a motive. The incident prompted a temporary lockdown around several government buildings near the Executive Office complex before security was restored.