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Democratic Strategist Warns 500 Additional National Guard in DC Would Create 'More Targets'

After a shooting in Washington that critically wounded two newly sworn National Guard members, strategist Donte Mills said adding 500 more troops would probably create 'more targets' rather than increase safety. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a 29-year-old Afghan national admitted under humanitarian parole in 2021. Supporters argue additional troops enhance security; critics question the necessity and legal basis of a larger, high-visibility Guard presence. Authorities say prosecutors will pursue the strongest charges.

03:50 PM, 11/28/2025Security
Democratic Strategist Warns 500 Additional National Guard in DC Would Create 'More Targets'

A Democratic strategist warned that deploying 500 additional National Guard members to Washington, D.C., after a recent shooting could create "more targets" for attackers rather than enhancing public safety.

During an interview about the legal and political debate over keeping Guard troops in the capital, strategist Donte Mills argued authorities and political leaders might use the attack to justify a larger visible military presence — but that simply adding personnel would not necessarily prevent similar incidents.

'If you add 500 people to this equation — 500 soldiers — it wouldn’t have stopped what happened today,' Mills said. 'He walked up on soldiers and opened fire. It would have just been more targets there. These people are on high-visibility patrol. They’re uniformed, people know where they are, and if someone wants to approach them or harm them, they’re in harm’s way.'

The shooting critically wounded two National Guard members, identified by authorities as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24. Officials said both had been sworn into service less than 24 hours before the attack.

The suspect, named as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a 29-year-old Afghan national who reportedly entered the United States in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of Operation Allies Welcome following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Pete Hegseth said the president requested the deployment of an additional 500 troops to Washington, D.C., a move that has renewed debate about the legal authority for the Guardsmen’s presence and whether a larger, high-visibility force makes the capital safer or simply concentrates risk.

Iraq War veteran Paul Rieckhoff expressed skepticism that more troops would improve safety: 'I don’t think so. Maybe in immediate areas, but any time the commander in chief sends men and women into harm’s way, he has to explain why it’s absolutely necessary.'

Pam Bondi said prosecutors intend to pursue the strongest possible response and signaled that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty for the suspect.

The incident has intensified a broader conversation about balancing visible security measures with the potential risks they pose to service members and the public. Legal questions about the authorization, duration and necessity of the Guard’s deployment remain unresolved as officials and advocates present competing arguments.

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