Trump Vows 'Swift Justice' After Near‑White House Shooting, Orders Review of Afghan Arrivals

President Donald Trump returned from his Thanksgiving break Wednesday night to address the nation after a shooting on a Washington, D.C., street near the White House that left two National Guard members critically wounded and hospitalized.

Describing the incident as a "monstrous ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House," Trump called it "an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror," saying it amounted to "a crime against our entire nation" and "a crime against humanity."

The president said the Department of Homeland Security "is confident" the person in custody is a foreign national who entered the United States from Afghanistan, and vowed his administration would "re-examine every single alien" who arrived from that country. Trump also accused the previous administration of allowing the suspect into the United States in 2021 — a claim he repeated on multiple platforms.

Suspect, sources and unanswered questions

Law enforcement sources have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, though authorities have not publicly confirmed that identity and the motive for the shooting remains unclear. Reports indicate the suspect was severely wounded during the incident and is hospitalized.

Relatives have told investigators the suspect previously served alongside U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan and came to the United States after the Taliban takeover. A family member said they were surprised by the allegations and had themselves felt targeted by the Taliban.

Many of the details about the suspect's background and the attack remain under review by investigators. Several claims made by political figures about how the suspect entered the country have not been independently verified and are subject to official confirmation.

Political response and policy pledges

Trump used the shooting to renew pressure on immigration and border policy. He repeated an allegation that recent administrations admitted millions of "unknown and unvetted" arrivals, and described the incident as evidence of what he called "the single greatest national security threat facing our nation." These characterizations reflect the president's political framing of the event.

He announced plans for what he referred to as a new "Department of War" and said he would deploy an additional 500 troops to help secure Washington. He also pledged to bring the attacker to "swift and certain justice," while praising the National Guard and other service members on duty.

Vice President J.D. Vance echoed the president's remarks on social media, and senior aides publicly supported a wide review of recent admissions and increased enforcement. One senior aide described the president's remarks as deeply moving and urged aggressive scrutiny of individuals admitted in recent years.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump posted on his social platform describing the shooter as "the animal that shot the two National Guardsmen," reiterating his support for the injured service members and law enforcement.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing. Officials have cautioned that many questions — including motive and the full circumstances of the suspect's arrival in the United States — remain unanswered and subject to verification by authorities.