Suspect Also Shot; Motive Remains Unknown
Trump Warns: "He Will Pay a Very Heavy Price"
Possibility of Expanding Existing Forces and New National Guard Deployments
On the 26th (local time), two National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House in Washington D.C., USA. President Donald Trump warned that the shooter would "pay a very heavy price" and ordered an additional deployment of 500 military personnel to Washington D.C.
On the 26th (local time), a shooting incident occurred near the White House in Washington D.C., USA, and the National Guard and emergency response personnel are standing in the restricted area. Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to local media outlets such as Bloomberg and CNN, the shooting occurred at around 2:15 p.m. at the intersection of 17th Street and I Street, one block from the White House in Washington D.C.
Jeffrey Carroll, Deputy Chief of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, stated that the two National Guard soldiers were patrolling to secure visibility when the suspect suddenly rounded a corner, pulled out a gun, and opened fire.
The two soldiers who were shot were rushed to the hospital and are reportedly in critical condition. Initially, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that the two soldiers had died, but later retracted the statement. The soldiers who were shot belong to the West Virginia National Guard, which had been dispatched to Washington D.C. for crime response. The suspect was also shot at the scene and subdued, and is currently under hospital custody and treatment. Deputy Chief Carroll confirmed that there were no additional suspects.
President Trump was staying in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday and was reportedly briefed on the situation in real time.
On his own social networking service, Truth Social, Trump wrote, "A beast shot two National Guard soldiers, leaving them in critical condition," and added, "He will pay a very heavy price." He continued, "God bless our great National Guard and all military and law enforcement agencies," emphasizing, "As President of the United States, I stand with everyone involved in presidential duties, and with all of you!"
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth condemned the incident as a "cowardly and vicious act" targeting the National Guard, stating, "We will never back down. We will keep our capital safe." He also announced that President Trump had ordered the additional deployment of 500 military personnel.
Vice President J.D. Vance said, "We do not yet know the motive. There is much that needs to be clarified."
President Trump deployed the National Guard to the capital, Washington D.C., in August, citing the need to eradicate crime. Of the 2,200 National Guard personnel currently deployed, 925 are from Washington D.C., and 1,200 are from other regions. The soldiers who were shot belong to the West Virginia National Guard. Previously, on the 20th, a court ruled that the deployment of the National Guard and the request for support from other states were illegal, but did not order an immediate withdrawal, considering the possibility of an appeal. This shooting occurred less than a week after that ruling.
Attention is now focused on whether President Trump will again emphasize the need for military deployment to strengthen public security in the wake of this incident. There is also speculation that the existing troop presence could be expanded or that new National Guard deployments to major cities may be pursued.
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