Tulsi Gabbard slams Bennie Thompson for calling DC National Guard shooting an ‘unfortunate accident’

WASHINGTON, DC: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard commented on the events of Kristi Noem’s recent House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Friday, December 12.

Gabbard commented on Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson calling the recent National Guard shooting in DC an “unfortunate accident” and criticized him for the same. 

Tulsi Gabbard calls Bennie Thompson's attempt to minimize DC shooting 'infuriating'

While on 'Fox and Friends', Tulsi Gabbard commented on Bennie Thompson’s comments about the shooting, which he made on Thursday.

Gabbard said it was “infuriating” that Thompson referred to the attack as an “unfortunate accident.” She stated that Thompson was a “very, very senior” leader in Congress who also led the Homeland Security Committee.

Emphasizing his usage of the term, she said that Thompson refused to “directly identify” the attack for what it was.

“A terrorist attack on our own soil, against our National Guard men and women in this case, who are putting their lives on the line,” she added. 

Bennie Thompson clears the air about comments made during congressional hearing

While on ‘CNN News Central’ and in conversation with Kate Bolduan, Bennie Thompson clarified what he meant to say during the House Homeland Security Committee hearing. He said that he misspoke and said that he was trying to make a different point altogether.

He said that he was trying to navigate the conversation to a different direction and say that Kristi Noem could not blame former President Joe Biden for the attack because “she approved this person’s asylum application.”

Thompson also shared a clip of his interview with Kate Boulduan on X while condemning the recent attack.

“The attack on our National Guard service members is an unspeakable tragedy. I condemn all targeted violence and political violence,” he wrote. 

What happened between Kristi Noem and Bennie Thompson?

On Thursday, Bennie Thompson criticized the Homeland Security Secretary and called for her to resign. In his opening argument, he mentioned the National Guard shooting in DC and called it an “unfortunate accident.”

Noem responded to the representative and said that it was a “terrorist attack” and that the shooter “shot our national guardsmen in the head.”

However, Thompson at the time corrected himself and said that it was an “unfortunate situation” but noted that Homeland Security had approved his asylum application.