The political firestorm over U.S. immigration policy intensified this weekend after Donald Trump Jr. launched a furious social media attack against The Wall Street Journal, condemning its editorial board as 'globalist RINOs' for defending refugees.
A Heated Exchange Over Immigration
The controversy erupted on Friday when The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece arguing that immigrants should not face collective punishment because of the violent actions of one individual. This followed a tragic incident on Wednesday near the White House, where an Afghan refugee, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot two National Guard members. One guardsman died from injuries, while the other remains in critical condition. Officials are investigating the ambush as a potential terror attack.
In response, Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of the Trump Organization, reposted the article on X with a scathing rebuke. "Give me a fucking break," he began, before accusing the Journal's editorial board of wanting America to be "flooded with millions of America hating migrants who don't share our values." He labeled the board members as "RINOs" (Republican In Name Only) and asserted that they, alongside Democrats, share responsibility for the current immigration situation.
The Facts Behind the Fury
The suspected shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was reportedly part of a CIA-backed Afghan partner force in Kandahar province. He was granted refugee status in the U.S. after the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in 2021. His exact motives for the attack remain unclear.
The Wall Street Journal's editorial took a firm stance against blaming the entire Afghan immigrant community for this isolated act, warning that such targeting would not make America safer and could instead foster bitterness against the United States.
Policy Repercussions and Political Fallout
The shooting has had immediate policy consequences. President Donald Trump cited the incident as a reason to reinforce his mass deportation agenda. The White House announced it would pause immigration applications from Afghanistan.
In a late Thursday night post on Truth Social, the president went further, proposing a permanent pause on migration from "all Third World Countries," granting himself broad latitude for a wider retaliatory response against immigrants. This move, coupled with the heated rhetoric from his son, signals a significant hardening of the administration's stance on immigration, setting the stage for a continued and deeply divisive national debate.
