Virginia Democrat slams Trump admin for neglecting public safety amid National Guard shooting
Video: @Rep_Walkinshaw (D-VA11) on “Terrible, Horrific” Shooting of Two Nat. Guard Members in DC, Says “it’s incumbent upon the [Trump] administration to lay out a clear plan to ensure their protection”; "I don't think we need National [Guard] in...cities" https://t.co/UqmJeuQJvc pic.twitter.com/ycZQARPqoT
— Blue Virginia (@bluevirginia) November 27, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC: Virginia’s Democratic representative, James Walkinshaw, appeared on CNN’s ‘The Lead with Jake Tapper’, on Thursday, November 27, where he discussed the recent shooting of two National Guard officers.
Walkinshaw commented on the safety of the National Guard officers deployed in the city and criticized the Trump administration for failing to ensure their safety by taking away resources.
He further urged the government to “get their eyes back on the ball” and focus on keeping Americans safe.
James Walkinshaw criticizes Trump admin for taking away resources
Democratic representative James Walkinshaw spoke about the recent National Guard shooting that took place near the White House on Wednesday.
When asked for his reaction, Walkinshaw called the incident “shocking” and “horrific,” and said that the National Guard men and women should have been at home with their families.
He claimed that most of those on the Democratic side of Congress didn’t believe they should be deployed in the cities. Still, he said, if it was going to happen, it was essential for the administration to ensure their safety and protection.
🚨 UPDATE: It’s been revealed that National Guard shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal worked with the CIA in Afghanistan as a “partner force”
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 27, 2025
DIRECTOR RATCLIFFE: “The individual, and so many others, should have NEVER been allowed to come here.”
This is insane. pic.twitter.com/BoOvV7B92T
Walkinshaw further said that one of the concerns he intended to raise as a new member of the Homeland Security Committee was that the Donald Trump administration “has taken its eye off the ball” while shifting resources to their mass deportation efforts.
He added that the government was transferring its resources away from issues such as illegal gun transportation and transnational crime, and needed to shift its focus back to the safety of people living in America.
James Walkinshaw comments on Trump's request for more troops
The Democratic representative was asked to comment on Donald Trump’s request to deploy an additional 500 troops in DC in light of the recent shooting.
Walkinshaw said that he didn’t believe they needed any guardsmen and women in American cities, let alone more of them. He added that there were a lot of things that the federal government could do to keep the country safe.
“They could do more, much more to crack down on illegal gun t******king. They could do much more to prevent human trafficking and child s** t******king.” he added.
