Jeanine Pirro slams reporter for questioning Trump's National Guard deployment amid fatal DC attack

WASHINGTON, DC: United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, dismissed a reporter’s suggestion that the fatal shooting in DC was caused by President Donald Trump’s National Guard deployment.

Pirro defended the president after the reporter linked the incident to his actions. The attack, carried out by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal on November 26 near the White House, targeted West Virginia National Guard members and left one dead and another critically injured.

Jeanine Pirro defends Trump amid DC attack

On Thursday morning, November 27, a day after two National Guard members were shot by an Afghan national in the US illegally, a reporter questioned Pirro about the deployment during a press conference.

The reporter suggested, "I want to ask if you could please comment to obviously — we understand [the suspect came in] under the Biden Administration and it, the words are it was a failed withdrawal."

The reporter continued, "There are people who are also upset with the president, believing the National Guard members should not have even been there, if it were not for the executive order."

Pirro shook her head and responded sharply, “We oughta kiss the ground and thank God that the president said it’s time to bring in more law enforcement to make sure a city, that had the fourth highest homicide rate in the country, that that violence was quelled. I’m not even gonna go there!”

The question echoed a comment by New Yorker writer Jane Mayer, who had criticized the deployment on X, saying the Guardsmen “should never have been deployed” and called it a political show.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung later condemned Mayer’s remarks as “ghoulish” and told her to “shut the f*ck up.”

FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooting is being investigated as terrorism and that authorities are reviewing suspected shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s communications with contacts in Afghanistan.

“We will ensure that our law enforcement partners are out there to make sure the world can enjoy our nation’s capital,” Patel said. “We will not let this heinous act prevent people from visiting our beautiful capital.”

Trump announces WV National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom's death

President Donald Trump announced the death of West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, during a Thanksgiving evening call with US service members on November 27.

Beckstrom, who had been wounded in an ambush allegedly carried out by Afghan refugee Rahmanullah Lakanwal, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, November 27.

Trump mourned, “She’s just passed away. She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now.” He called her “an incredible person, outstanding in every single way” and described her death as “just horrible.” Beckstrom had been in critical condition after being shot in the head and chest while standing guard in Washington, DC

The West Virginia National Guard also confirmed her death on X (formerly Twitter), “We are devastated to confirm the death of our own, Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was shot in the line of duty near the Farragut Square Metro Station Wednesday. Spc. Beckstrom was pronounced dead at MedStar Washington Hospital on Nov. 27, by wounds incurred during the shooting.”

Another National Guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, 24, was also shot in the attack. Trump said Wolfe is “fighting for his life” and added, “Hopefully, we'll get better news with respect to him.” He also noted, “And the monster that did this is also in serious condition, but we won’t even talk about him.” A third Guard member stopped the suspect with a pocketknife, while a fourth returned fire.

After Beckstrom’s death, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X, “Devastated. Please pray for Sarah. Pray for her family. America will never forget her courage. There will be Justice for Sarah. Continue to pray for Andrew. Thank you to President Trump — the death penalty is back.”