WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed former President Joe Biden for the Washington, D.C., shooting that left two National Guard personnel critically injured, with unconfirmed reports suggesting they may have died. Trump argued that Biden’s immigration policies enabled the suspect to enter the United States.
The incident occurred near the Farragut North area, triggering a security lockdown around the White House and a heightened police presence across the capital.
Authorities identified the lone gunman as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who travelled to Washington, D.C., from Washington state. Officials confirmed he has resided in the United States since 2021.
In a national address, President Trump directly linked the attack to the Biden-era evacuation flights from Afghanistan.
“He was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021 on those infamous flights everyone was talking about,” Trump said. “Nobody knew who was coming in; nobody knew anything about it. His status was extended under legislation signed by President Biden — a disastrous president, the worst in the history of our country.”
Trump further described Lakanwal as “an animal” from “a hellhole on Earth,” insisting that the previous administration’s immigration decisions created long-term security vulnerabilities.
Federal law enforcement officials say the motive for the attack remains under investigation. Lakanwal was arrested at the scene and is expected to face multiple federal charges.
