Ambush on National Guard Members Rouses Controversy

WASHINGTON — Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) described the ambush that targeted two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., resulting in one death, as an “unfortunate accident.” This characterization drew sharp criticism from the Trump administration and several Republicans in Congress, who vehemently disagreed with the label.

During a session of the House Homeland Security Committee, Thompson mentioned the “unfortunate incident” leading to a National Guard member’s death when Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem interjected.

“An unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack. He shot our guard in the head,” Noem asserted, referring to the incident that occurred shortly before Thanksgiving, mere blocks from the White House.

Thompson defended his stance, saying, “It was an unfortunate situation. But you blamed it only on Joe Biden.” In response, Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) strongly criticized Thompson, declaring, “That was a murder in Washington, D.C. It was not an unfortunate incident. That comment was really disrespectful. I expect better from the ranking members.”

White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt also weighed in, labeling Thompson’s comments as “shameful.”

The shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Rakanwal, had killed 20-year-old National Guardsman Sarah Beckström and left 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe in critical condition during a daytime ambush while they were patrolling the streets.

Following the hearing, Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, mentioned that U.S. intelligence is tracking approximately 2,000 known or suspected terrorists who had entered the country under the Biden administration’s Afghan refugee program, known as Operation Welcoming Allies, which facilitated the entry of around 88,000 Afghans into the U.S.

Additionally, Kent reported that 16,000 suspected terrorists came to the U.S. during Biden’s term, many with links to groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda, as well as drug-trafficking organizations such as Venezuela’s Torren de Aragua and MS-13.

Earlier in the hearing, Thompson had called for Noem’s resignation, advising her, “Just do your true service to your country and resign, that is, unless President Trump fires you first.” The Mississippi Democratic Party accused Noem of enforcing stricter immigration policies, which they claim has made the U.S. “less safe” and prioritized personal interests over legal responsibilities.