Two National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House during daylight hours, with both individuals being 20 and 24 years old and having taken their oaths less than a day prior to the incident. While the troops were hospitalized, President Donald Trump directed his attention towards the alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national residing in Washington State who arrived in the US as a refugee post the fall of Kabul. Trump criticized Lakanwal and Afghan refugees, as well as unexpectedly targeted Somali immigrants in Minnesota, unconnected to the shooting.
In response to the shooting of the National Guard troops in Washington DC, former President Trump vehemently criticized Afghan refugees, Joe Biden, and Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Trump highlighted that Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, was permitted entry into the country under Operation Allies Welcome following the events in Kabul in 2021. He expressed his discontent with the Biden administration’s handling of the situation and made inaccurate claims regarding the influx of foreigners during Biden’s presidency.
Furthermore, despite Lakanwal’s entry into the US under Biden’s administration, he was granted asylum during Trump’s presidency in 2024. Trump emphasized the need for a thorough review of individuals entering the US from Afghanistan under Biden’s tenure and proposed the removal of any foreign nationals deemed unfit for the country. Additionally, Trump announced the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to join the existing 2,200 in Washington DC.
While Lakanwal’s asylum status was clarified, the FBI Director deferred inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security for further details. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance made contentious remarks about Thanksgiving and the military at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, challenging the preference for turkey over chicken. The White House engaged in disputes with veteran members of Congress over military orders, while Trump’s decision to exclude South Africa from the G20 summit stirred diplomatic tensions.
In response to South Africa’s actions at a recent summit, Trump announced via Twitter that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 summit hosted in Miami, citing reasons for halting payments and subsidies to the country. The diplomatic spat between the US and South Africa escalated following disagreements over the summit, leading to Trump’s decision to exclude South Africa from the upcoming event.