Shooting Near the White House: National Guard Soldiers Injured in Ambush

On Wednesday, a serious incident unfolded just outside the White House in Washington when two National Guard soldiers were injured during an ambush. The attacker, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, opened fire at around 2:15 PM near the Farragut West metro station before being wounded himself and taken into custody. The motives behind the attack remain unclear. Washington police characterized the event as an ambush, emphasizing that Lakanwal acted alone. In a swift response, President Donald Trump labeled the shooting an act of terrorism and pledged his administration's resolve to intensify efforts to expel immigrants from the United States. Notably, Lakanwal had been living in the U.S. since 2021, having entered through a program created by the Biden administration that offered temporary two-year visas to certain Afghan citizens after the chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan. This program aimed primarily to protect Afghans who had collaborated with Western forces over the previous decade, as they faced retribution from the Taliban, which has regained control of the country. In light of the attack, the U.S. government announced that it would temporarily halt the processing of visa and asylum applications for Afghan citizens. Eyewitness accounts paint a chaotic scene; some reported hearing two or three initial shots followed by a moment of silence, after which more shots rang out. Panic ensued among bystanders as police vehicles rapidly descended upon the area. The two injured soldiers belong to the West Virginia National Guard, part of America's military reserve forces. In recent months, President Trump has ordered the deployment of military personnel in several cities, particularly those governed by Democrats, citing a need to address a perceived crime emergency. National Guard soldiers have been seen patrolling public transit stations and tourist areas, including the site of the shooting, while assisting in regular operations led by ICE, the agency tasked with immigration enforcement—an agency that has faced significant criticism for its aggressive tactics. The deployment of the National Guard in urban settings is controversial and seen as unusual. Typically, this reserve force, which includes individuals who maintain civilian jobs, is mobilized to manage national emergencies at the direction of state governors, not the federal government. Recent legal challenges have questioned Trump's use of the National Guard, with several federal judges seeking to limit its deployment as possibly illegal. Despite ongoing legal disputes, in the wake of Wednesday's attack, President Trump announced that he would send an additional 500 National Guard soldiers to Washington, supplementing the already deployed 2,000. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2