Two National Guard members were shot near the White House in broad daylight. The victims, aged 20 and 24, had recently taken their oath before the incident. As they fought for their lives in the hospital, President Donald Trump focused on the shooter, an Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal living in Washington State. Lakanwal, a former CIA employee who arrived in the US as a refugee after the fall of Kabul, was labeled an “animal” by Trump. The President then broadened his criticism to include Afghan refugees and Somali immigrants in Minnesota, despite their lack of involvement in the shooting.
In response to the shooting, Trump criticized Afghan refugees, Joe Biden, and Somali immigrants in Minnesota. He highlighted that Lakanwal, aged 29, entered the US under Operation Allies Welcome post the Kabul incident in 2021, facilitated by the Biden administration. Trump expressed strong disapproval of the situation, claiming that millions of unvetted foreigners had entered the US during Biden’s term, a statement proven to be false.
Trump further emphasized the need to reassess all individuals from Afghanistan who entered the US under Biden’s administration and to remove those deemed unsuitable. He declared the addition of 500 National Guard troops to the existing 2,200 in Washington DC. Despite Lakanwal’s entry under Biden, it was revealed that he obtained asylum under the Trump administration in April 2024.
The FBI Director deferred questions regarding Lakanwal’s asylum timeline to the Department of Homeland Security. While there is no official statement from Secretary Kristi Noem, reports indicate confirmation of the asylum process behind the scenes. Vice President JD Vance stirred controversy during a speech at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, questioning the preference for turkey over chicken on Thanksgiving, a sentiment refuted by many.
Amidst the ongoing tensions, Trump took punitive action against South Africa by excluding them from the upcoming G20 summit in Miami. This decision followed a diplomatic standoff where South Africa declined to officially transfer the G20 host title to the US during a summit ceremony. Trump’s Twitter announcement of the exclusion and cessation of financial support to South Africa triggered further discord in international relations.
The White House engaged in a verbal clash with veteran congress members over military orders and faced criticism for its handling of international diplomacy issues. Despite the escalating tensions, the situation remains unresolved as both domestic and international conflicts persist.
