Political advisor states 500 additional National Guard troops would be ‘targets’

Concerns Over Adding Troops to Washington, D.C.

A Democratic strategist voiced concerns on CNN, stating that increasing the number of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., by 500 would create “more targets” for potential shootings.

During an interview on “CNN Newsnight,” host Erica Hill questioned Democratic strategist Donte Mills about the ongoing legal discussions regarding the presence of the National Guard in the capital after a recent mass shooting that critically injured two members.

“The government declared a state of emergency today and expressed a desire to keep troops in the area, while the president is requesting an additional 500 National Guardsmen. Considering what unfolded today, how could this complicate things legally?” Hill asked.

Mills asserted, “I think the president is trying to leverage this incident to promote his agenda of having Guardsmen visible on the streets.”

On Wednesday, the two National Guard members, identified as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, were sworn in just 24 hours prior to the shooting.

The shooter, Rahmanullah Rakanwar, a 29-year-old Afghan national, entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Welcoming Allies during the Afghanistan withdrawal.

In reaction to the incident, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that President Trump had requested an additional 500 troops for D.C.

However, Mills expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of adding more guards, stating it would simply provide “more targets” for shooters. He explained, “If you add 500 more soldiers, it wouldn’t have prevented today’s events. The shooter approached the soldiers and opened fire. They are in high-visibility patrols, making it easier for someone to aim at them.”

He questioned the rationale behind putting more troops in danger when the outcomes might remain unchanged.

Veteran Paul Riekoff, when asked if more Guardsmen would improve safety in Washington, D.C., suggested that while it might help in specific areas, the issue is more complex. “Any time a commander-in-chief sends someone into risk, they need to justify its necessity,” he remarked.