Criticism of Biden Administration Intensifies Following D.C. Shooting

The father of one of the soldiers killed in the Monastery Gate bombing during the tumultuous 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan has continued to voice his concerns about the Biden administration. This time, it comes after the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.

Taylor Hoover, whose son, Staff Sergeant Darrin Hoover, was one of the 13 service members lost in the Kabul airport attack, criticized the Biden administration this week. He accused them of “failing to vet” Afghan refugees connected to the shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday.

A shooting involving an Afghan national claimed the life of 20-year-old security guard Sarah Beckstrom on Thursday. Additionally, 24-year-old security guard Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition following the incident.

Hoover expressed his concerns, saying, “This is about the reckless Biden administration. We had no idea who was infiltrating this country because they, especially the State Department under Antony Blinken, didn’t do the necessary work to vet these individuals. Many people were brought in on the first planes, and it’s hard to discern who they actually are.”

He added, “Instead, we see young men of fighting age who could pose threats to our homeland. If the Biden administration had started the vetting process sooner instead of shortening the timeline, perhaps everything could have been handled better, including the safety of our valued service members.”

Authorities have arrested 29-year-old Rahmanullah Rakanwal, an Afghan national, who is suspected of ambushing two soldiers from the West Virginia National Guard near a subway station just a short distance from the White House.

Rakanwal reportedly immigrated to the U.S. through a program designed for those who assisted American efforts during the war on terror. He is believed to have traveled from Bellingham, Washington, where he lived with his wife and five children, prior to the attack.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated, “That individual, along with many others, should never have been allowed into this country.” He further emphasized the need for better oversight, asserting that “our citizens and military members deserve much more than to face the consequences of the Biden administration’s failures.”

Hoover has been a prominent figure calling for accountability regarding the bombing at the Monastery Gate, where over 160 Afghan civilians lost their lives. His son, Taylor, had served in the Marine Corps for 11 years and was engaged, undertaking his third deployment to Afghanistan at that time.

This year, Hoover urged President Joe Biden to “grow up” and resign due to the chaotic withdrawal, according to reports. He expressed his frustration publicly during a debate in California.

In 2024, Hoover also made headlines when President Biden mistakenly claimed that no U.S. military personnel had died during his presidency. “The rage and disgust I felt when I heard that! I yelled back at the TV,” he recalled. “He’s never acknowledged our loved ones. He’s never mentioned their names.”