USA Shots fired at National Guardsmen: Trump speaks of act of terrorism
US President Donald Trump has spoken of an act of terrorism after shots were fired at National Guardsmen in Washington. "This heinous attack was an act of evil, an act of hate and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity," Trump said in a speech. The attack underscored "the greatest threat to the national security" of the United States, the Republican continued.
27.11.2025, 04:15
SDA
On Wednesday afternoon (local time), a gunman opened fire on two members of the National Guard near the White House. The two were in "critical condition", FBI chief Kash Patel and Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference. Bowser spoke of a targeted attack. There were initially no details about the motive.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Suspect from Afghanistan
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem later stated on Platform X that the suspect was an Afghan citizen who had been in the USA since 2021. She indirectly blamed the administration of Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. The man had entered the country without the necessary checks, she claimed.
In his speech, Trump called Afghanistan a "hellhole on earth" and claimed that millions of people from all over the world had come to the USA without being vetted under Biden. He announced that all people who had entered the country from Afghanistan during Biden's term of office would be vetted again. He would also "take all necessary measures to ensure that all foreigners are deported from all countries that do not belong here or do not benefit our country".
Trump called suspect an "animal"
A representative of the Washington police explained that the shooter had come around a corner and immediately fired at the two National Guardsmen. Other members of the National Guard heard the shots, intervened and overpowered the suspect after he fell to the ground. The police arrived a few moments later.
There was initially no precise information on the identity of the victims. According to unconfirmed media reports, the victims were a soldier and a female soldier.
The National Guards are military reserve units and part of the US armed forces. They are generally under the control of the federal states and are deployed in the event of natural disasters, unrest or other emergencies. In certain situations, however, the US President can also assume command. Special rules apply to Washington.
Debate about the deployment of the National Guard
Since the summer, more than 2,000 National Guardsmen have been on the move in the US capital. US President Donald Trump ordered them there in August and justified the deployment with allegedly rampant crime. This account is controversial - statistics do not support it.
