Response to Shooting of National Guard Soldiers Sparks Controversy
Jane Mayer, a journalist with The New Yorker, faced backlash over her reaction to the recent shooting deaths of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. She suggested that the tragedy reflected failures of the Trump administration.
In a post shared on X, Mayer expressed her sorrow: “This is so tragic, so unnecessary, and these poor security guards should never have been sent. I live in Washington, D.C., and watched as they had virtually nothing to do but pick up trash. This was all for a political show, and at what a cost?”
The shooters have been identified as Rahmanullah Rakanwal, a 29-year-old from Afghanistan, who killed the soldiers just blocks from the White House, mere days before Thanksgiving, according to law enforcement.
Steven Zhang, who served as the White House Communications Director under Trump, responded sharply to Mayer’s comments, urging her to remain silent on issues she seemed to politicize. He remarked, “Jane, please respectfully shut up about the bastards who are trying to politicize this tragedy. They were trying to protect D.C. and make our nation’s capital safer.” He further criticized Mayer’s credibility, saying it was non-existent.
Reactions from Officials and Analysts
The Rapid Response account from the government on X did not hold back, labeling Mayer as a “nasty ghoul.” Alongside this, FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson issued a statement rebuking her, suggesting that even a computed response couldn’t reach the shameful level of her commentary.
Mayer didn’t stop there; she engaged with those who pointed out an increase in murders in D.C. this year. She accused one person of “mansplaining” and defended her position by stating her long history reporting on crime in the city.
Mayer added, “Feel free to play around with the statistics, but murders were down before the military arrived.” She later shared her sympathies for the victims’ families while also implying that her critics were unable to see the reality of the situation.
Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer suggested Mayer was, in a way, shifting blame onto the victims, but he also expressed gratitude for the officers and their dedication to public safety.
Further Commentary and Criticism
Amid the discussions, another individual asked, “Is your conclusion that they were shot in an ambush and Washington D.C. was otherwise very safe?” This echoed a sense of confusion about the narrative surrounding the shooting.
The New Yorker has yet to provide a comment on the matter. Additionally, MS NOW correspondent Ken Dilanian was also questioned by the White House regarding his remarks related to the incident, linking it to broader controversies about personnel in uniforms in urban America.
The White House Rapid Response Team later tweeted about Dilanian’s comments, highlighting the sensitivity of the situation as “two heroes were shot and killed defending our nation’s capital.” They urged him to reconsider his stance, labeling it as “beyond sick.”
