Trump Labels Shooting Near White House An “Act of Terror,” Links Suspect To Afghan Evacuation

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House an “act of terror,” saying the suspect an Afghan man who arrived in the U.S. during the 2021 evacuation carried out “an act of evil” against the nation.

The attack happened in daylight near a busy metro station just two blocks from the White House. Police said the gunman ambushed the soldiers, leaving both in critical condition. The suspect was also severely wounded and taken into custody.

Trump used the incident to spotlight his controversial deployment of federal troops to Democratic-run cities and to push for stricter immigration enforcement. He said the U.S. must “reexamine every single alien” who entered from Afghanistan under former President Joe Biden. Shortly after, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended all immigration processing for Afghan nationals pending a security review.

Witnesses described sudden g+nfire and chaotic scenes as National Guard members and emergency teams rushed in. Security forces sealed off the area with helicopters circling overhead.

AfghanEvac, which helped resettle Afghan evacuees, warned against broad stigmatization, stressing that Afghans undergo some of the toughest vetting procedures.

Following the shooting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the deployment of 500 additional troops to Washington days after a federal judge ruled Trump’s earlier troop deployment to the capital unlawful.