Political Blame Game Erupts After National Guard Shooting
A former Democratic National Committee chair has spearheaded accusations holding President Donald Trump responsible for the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members, claiming he endangered military personnel by deploying them in Washington DC.
Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz appeared on CNN on Friday, questioning whether the attacker would have travelled across the country to target law enforcement without Trump's military deployment. "Would an individual have flown across the country to target law enforcement officers in Washington, DC? The answer is likely no," she stated.
The congresswoman challenged the president's decision-making, asking why his initial reaction wasn't to reconsider deploying military troops in the nation's capital. She emphasised that local law enforcement possessed adequate capability to handle criminal justice matters without military intervention.
Legal Challenges and White House Response
Schultz argued strongly against using military personnel as law enforcement officers, referencing the Posse Comitatus Act that generally prohibits such actions. A federal judge had previously ruled that Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles violated this 1878 law.
The White House responded swiftly to the criticism. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail that liberals attempting to blame Trump for the incident were misguided. "This animal would've never been here if not for Joe Biden's dangerous policies which allowed countless unvetted criminals to invade our country," Jackson stated.
The administration defended its actions, claiming it was taking every possible measure to remove what it described as "monsters" from the country, despite what it called "unrelenting Democrat opposition."
Attack Details and Suspect Background
According to Washington Metropolitan Police Department, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fire on two National Guard members near the White House on Wednesday. The attack, currently investigated as an act of terrorism, claimed the life of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and left Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24 seriously wounded.
Lakanwal, 29, initially entered the United States in August 2021 under Operations Allies Welcome, a programme designed to admit Afghans fleeing Taliban control. Following the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan, approximately 200,000 Afghans have settled in the US through this initiative, later renamed Enduring Welcome.
Contrary to Trump administration claims about inadequate vetting, reports indicate Lakanwal previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. The Washington Post revealed he served in the CIA's Zero Units, paramilitary groups undertaking dangerous missions against Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS members.
Liberal commentators united in criticising Trump's deployment decisions. John Pavlovitz, a Christian author, declared on X that "Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are culpable for endangering the National Guard by putting them in harm's way."
New York Times opinion writer Wajahat Ali echoed similar sentiments, asserting the National Guard should never have been deployed in Washington. Meanwhile, CNN contributor Dean Obeidallah highlighted that Lakanwal received asylum this year under the Trump administration.
The controversy extends beyond this single incident, with Trump having deployed troops to several cities including Los Angeles, Memphis, and Portland throughout 2024. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that following the shooting, Trump requested an additional 500 troops for Washington.
Hours before the attack, the Trump administration filed an emergency application with a federal appeals court to overturn a previous ruling that deemed his Washington National Guard deployment illegal.
