A gunman opened fire near the White House on November 26, killing two National Guard soldiers before being subdued by U.S. military and police.
Attack near the White House
On Wednesday, November 26, a shooting occurred about two blocks from the White House in Washington, killing two National Guard soldiers.
The gunman was quickly disarmed by military and police forces and taken into custody.
Motives are unknown, and the wounded soldiers are in critical condition, the FBI confirmed.
Timing amid nationwide security measures
The shooting took place while President Trump had deployed soldiers and additional police to patrol the streets of Washington and other U.S. cities to curb escalating crime.
Gunman identified as 29‑year‑old Afghan asylum seeker
National Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated the suspect was a 29‑year‑old Afghan who entered the United States under an evacuation program following the 2021 Taliban offensive.
CNN reported that he applied for asylum in 2024 and was approved in April of that year.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser called the attack a “targeted shooting.”
Trump condemns attack as terrorism
Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the shooting, addressed the nation from the Sunshine State, saying he had mobilized the Department of Defense to send an additional 500 troops to Washington to make the capital and country safe.
He pledged that his administration would ensure the shooter pays the highest possible price for the act, labeling it a crime against the nation and humanity, and announced renewed scrutiny of Afghan asylum applications.