President Addresses Assault on National Guard Members

President Donald Trump responded swiftly on Thursday when questioned by reporters about the individual accused of violently attacking two National Guard members.

CBS News White House correspondent Nancy Cordes posed a critical question regarding reports that the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Rakanwal, had undergone vetting by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security prior to his entry into the country from Afghanistan.

In her inquiry, Cordes wondered why the blame was placed on the Biden administration. She highlighted a statement from former President Biden, who remarked that the Department of Justice’s Inspector General had confirmed a thorough investigation by DHS and the FBI for Afghans relocated to the U.S. this year, questioning Trump’s rationale.

But Trump firmly replied, “Because they let him in. Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person? Because they flew in with thousands of other people who shouldn’t be here. And you’re just asking questions. Because you’re a stupid person.” He emphasized the challenges posed by current immigration laws, stating that “now that the law has been passed, it’s almost impossible not to get them out. Once they’re in, you can’t get them out.”

One of the National Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom, was confirmed dead by President Trump the following day.

Breitbart News reported that Janine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, indicated that both Beckstrom and Andrew Wolf, aged 24, were members of the West Virginia National Guard and had been deployed under an executive order from Trump intended to secure the capital. Notably, both soldiers had just been sworn in less than a day before the attack.

Pirro detailed that Rakanwal, who came to the U.S. in September 2021 as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Welcoming Allies following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, executed the assault with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. She specified that the attack was deliberate, noting Rakanwal had traveled from his home in Bellingham, Washington, to target the nation’s capital.

In light of the tragedy, Trump announced intentions to impose a permanent suspension on immigration from developing countries and to reverse Biden’s automatic admissions policy, according to Breitbart News.

Fox News relayed that, following the announcement of Beckstrom’s death, Trump mentioned that Wolf was still “fighting for his life,” adding that Rakanwal had been apprehended and was recovering in a hospital after sustaining injuries from other National Guard members.