White House calls Jane Mayer ‘disgusting ghoul’ over DC National Guard comments
You sick, disgusting ghoul.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 26, 2025
Two of these heroes were just SHOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. The Guard has saved countless lives — backed up by evidence (which you’re clearly too stupid to notice).
They are American Patriots. https://t.co/TpARu2c9eL
WASHINGTON, DC: New Yorker writer Jane Mayer faced backlash from the White House’s Rapid Response 47 account on X (formerly Twitter) after she argued that the National Guard “should never have been deployed” in Washington, DC. The account called her a “sick, disgusting ghoul.”
A violent incident near 17th and I Street NW on Wednesday, November 26, sent shockwaves across the country. Two National Guard members were critically injured in what officials described as a “targeted attack” close to the White House. The suspect was taken into custody.
White House slams Jane Mayer for DC shooting post
This is so tragic, so unnecessary, these poor guardsmen should never have been deployed. I live in DC and watched as they had virtually nothing to do but pick up trash. It was for political show and at what a cost. https://t.co/ABkOHNHAvG
— Jane Mayer (@JaneMayerNYer) November 26, 2025
Mayer posted her remarks roughly an hour after the shooting. “This is so tragic, so unnecessary, these poor guardsmen should never have been deployed,” she wrote. “I live in DC and watched as they had virtually nothing to do but pick up trash. It was for political show, and at what a cost.”
Her post quickly drew a response from the Rapid Response 47 account, which reposted her comments and condemned them. “Two of these heroes were just SHOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. The Guard has saved countless lives — backed up by evidence (which you’re clearly too stupid to notice). They are American Patriots,” the account wrote.
A few hours later, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung also criticized Mayer. “Jane, respectfully, shut the f**k up for trying to politicize this tragedy,” he wrote. “They were protecting DC and trying to make the nation’s capital safer. People like you who engage in ghoulish behavior lose all credibility. Not like you had any to begin with.”
Jane, respectfully, shut the fuck up for trying to politicize this tragedy.
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) November 27, 2025
They were protecting DC and trying to make the nation’s capital safer.
People like you who engage in ghoulish behavior lose all credibility. Not like you had any to begin with. https://t.co/DzVX7Adg96
Mayer has long been critical of former President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to DC to respond to crime and public safety issues.
Donald Trump condemns attack on National Guard members
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These… pic.twitter.com/CyZJDqtdoR
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 26, 2025
About 30 minutes after the shooting, Trump released a statement on Truth Social calling the shooter an “animal” and saying the individual “will pay a very steep price.” He noted that the suspect had also been “severely wounded.”
“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement,” Trump added. “These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”
Following the attack, Trump ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops to be deployed to DC to bolster security efforts in the capital. Vice President JD Vance expressed sorrow over the shooting and highlighted the risks Guardsmen face while on duty.
Mayer has not publicly responded to the backlash from the White House or Trump administration officials.
