On-Air Clash: Chaffetz and Guest Spar Over Trump’s Order to Send 500 More National Guard to D.C.

A Fox News segment grew tense when guest host Jason Chaffetz and contributor Ted Williams sharply disagreed over President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., following a shooting near the White House that left two service members seriously injured.

Williams, an attorney and former D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer appearing on The Ingraham Angle, questioned whether increasing the Guard presence might inflame tensions on the streets. He warned against a repeat of past incidents involving armed troops and protesters and urged caution in assigning military personnel to roles that can mirror law enforcement.

“The National Guard are out there on the streets, and they are deeply concerned. They know that two of their fellow National Guardsmen have been shot and they are going to be on a high state of alert. And the last thing we need in the District of Columbia or anywhere else is another Kent State,” Williams said.

Chaffetz interrupted and pushed back forcefully, challenging the implication that Guard members were a problem rather than part of the security solution.

“I can’t believe this. Why do you want less good guys? I’m shocked to hear you say that,” Chaffetz said, adding that in his view a stronger Guard presence is the appropriate response.

Williams responded that National Guard troops are not trained as police officers and that deployment decisions should avoid partisan influence. He emphasized the need to match personnel and training to the mission on the ground.

Background and developments

The 500 additional Guard members were ordered after the shooting at the request of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Thousands of troops have been stationed in the capital for months as part of a federal effort to address crime and security concerns.

Authorities have detained a suspect identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal in connection with the shooting near the White House, which investigators believe may have been targeted. In a video statement, President Trump described the attack as "an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror," and said the suspect had been brought to the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome in 2021.

Law enforcement officials have said that Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted it in April under the current administration. That timeline has been referenced in public statements as officials and the president have described the suspect's arrival in the U.S.

The on-air exchange highlighted a broader debate about the role of the National Guard in domestic security: whether an increased military presence deters violence or risks escalating tensions when troops are deployed in public-facing roles typically handled by civilian police.