Former President Donald Trump has ignited a fresh controversy by sharing a social media post containing extreme and derogatory claims about Afghan people. The post, originally authored by ex-Navy Seal Robert O'Neill, surfaced in the aftermath of a violent shooting in Washington DC that left two National Guard members injured.
Controversial Claims and Political Fallout
The inflammatory post, which Trump reshared on his Truth Social platform last Saturday, suggested that Afghan nationals would perceive someone with a Nespresso coffee machine as 'a witch' and would 'chop off your head'. Robert O'Neill, the veteran who controversially claimed sole responsibility for killing Osama bin Laden, authored the original message appearing to oppose Afghan immigration to the United States.
O'Neill's post stated: 'If you showed these people a Nespresso machine and gave them a free coffee, they would assume you were a witch and chop off your head... But let's bring 'em in!' This commentary emerged shortly after the Wednesday shooting where Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed and Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, was wounded.
The Washington DC Shooting Incident
The attack occurred when the two National Guard members were reportedly sworn in less than 24 hours before being shot on the street. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro described the incident as an unprovoked, ambush-style attack where the gunman used a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver.
Trump described the shooting as a 'savage attack' during his Thanksgiving remarks, paying tribute to Beckstrom whom he called 'outstanding in every single way'. The suspected gunman was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who entered the United States through the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome programme in 2021.
According to former CIA director John Ratcliffe, Lakanwal had previously worked with US forces, including the CIA, 'as a member of a partner force in Kandahar', though this relationship ended following the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan.
Immediate Policy Response and Online Debate
The Trump administration responded swiftly to the incident, announcing that immigration requests from Afghanistan would be halted 'indefinitely'. Furthermore, the administration ordered a comprehensive reexamination of green card holders from 19 designated 'countries of concern'.
Meanwhile, O'Neill's original post sparked intense debate across social media platforms. While some users defended the perspective of Global War on Terrorism veterans, others strongly rebutted the characterisation of Afghan people. One user countered: 'Your experience there is of a hate-filled invader, he kills indiscriminately, then returns.'
The shooting motivation remains unclear, but the incident has significantly intensified the ongoing debate about immigration policy and vetting procedures for refugees arriving from conflict zones.
