Trump lambasts reporter over Biden blame for DC shooting suspect

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump lambasted a reporter on Thursday, November 27, for asking why he blamed former President Joe Biden’s administration for the shooting in Washington, DC.

The shooting left two National Guard members in critical condition, one of whom – Sarah Beckstrom – later died from her injuries. The 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal is in custody as the suspect.

Trump asks reporter 'are you stupid?' for his question

During a press conference, a reporter asked President Trump why he blamed the Biden administration for the attack. Trump responded sharply.

"Are you a stupid person?” the president said. “Because they came in on a plane along with thousands of other people who shouldn’t be here, and you’re just asking questions because you’re a stupid person.” 

Trump added that a law prevented authorities from removing some arrivals once they entered and called the “whole thing” a “mess,” insisting they “shouldn’t have come in” in the first place.

He also described the broader “Afghanistan situation” as a “mess” that “should have never taken place.”

Supporters of the Biden administration’s program have said it involved extensive vetting and offered a lifeline to Afghans at risk of Taliban reprisals. The initiative resettled around 76,000 people, many of whom had worked alongside US troops and diplomats as interpreters and translators.

The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US from Afghanistan in 2021 through the Operation Allies Welcome program. Before relocating, he worked with the US government, including the CIA, “as a member of a partner force in Kandahar,” according to former spy agency director John Ratcliffe.

Virginia Democrat slams Trump admin for neglecting public safety

Virginia Representative James Walkinshaw appeared on CNN’s 'The Lead with Jake Tapper' to discuss the shooting.

Walkinshaw criticized the Trump administration for diverting resources away from public safety and called the incident “shocking” and “horrific.” He said National Guard members should have been at home with their families and urged the government to prioritize protection for Americans in cities. 

He also said he planned to address safety concerns as a new member of the Homeland Security Committee, claiming the Trump administration had shifted focus to mass deportation efforts while leaving gaps in addressing illegal gun transport and transnational crime.