‘Monstrous Ambush’ on National Guard Members in Washington, D.C.
A violent attack unfolded in the heart of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, leaving two National Guard members critically wounded. The incident, which occurred just steps from the White House, is being investigated by the FBI as a potential terror attack.
Suspect Identified as Afghan National
Authorities have identified the alleged gunman as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. According to reports, Lakanwal entered the United States as part of the Afghanistan withdrawal plan initiated under former President Joe Biden. It is alleged that he subsequently overstayed his visa.
In a national address on Wednesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump described the assault as a “monstrous, ambush-style attack.” He stated that the gunman shot the two victims at “point-blank range,” characterizing the violence as an “act of evil and act of hatred and act of terror.” President Trump emphasized that it was a “crime against our entire nation.”
Victims and Political Fallout
One of the victims was a female National Guard member who was reportedly shot in the head. Both soldiers were said to be in critical condition in separate hospitals, though initial, conflicting reports about their survival caused confusion.
The attack prompted an immediate and strong political response. President Trump announced he had directed the U.S. war secretary to deploy an additional 500 troops to protect the capital. He vowed to bring the perpetrator to “swift and certain justice” and called for a thorough reexamination of every individual who entered the country from Afghanistan during the Biden administration, referring to such unvetted foreign nationals as the “single greatest national security threat.”
Echoing this sentiment, Senator Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), whose state the guardsmen were from, called the attack “absolutely sickening” and demanded an immediate review of all special visa applicants from the previous administration. Representative Randy Fine (R-Fla.) referred to the suspect as an “illegal immigrant Muslim terrorist.”
Internationally, Israeli President Isaac Herzog offered “heartfelt condolences” and a message of solidarity with the United States.
