On Thursday (11/27/2025), United States President Donald Trump announced the death of a National Guard member whom he identified as Sarah Beckstrom (20 years old). She was attacked on Wednesday in Washington, along with another agent in critical condition.
The president revealed Beckstrom’s death in a phone call with members of the armed forces in which he also stated that the alleged attacker, 29-year-old Afghan Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was “in serious condition” and described him as a “wild beast.”
“Unfortunately, I’m telling you, just seconds ago, I heard that Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia, one of the guardsmen we’re talking about, very well-respected, young, wonderful, who began her service in June of 2023, extraordinary in every way, has just passed away,” he added.
The head of state added that the other injured person, Andrew Wolf (24 years old), is “fighting for his life.”
Before calling the military on Thanksgiving Day, Trump once again blamed the immigration policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden (2021-2025), for the entry of Lakanwal and the subsequent attack.
“These atrocities remind us that we have no higher national security priority than ensuring we have complete control over the people who enter and stay in our country. And for the most part, we don’t want them. They are coming here illegally,” the president said.
Hours earlier, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a “rigorous review” of residency cards, or “green cards,” for 19 nationalities from “countries of concern,” including Afghanistan, Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti.
The president thanked the troops for “participating in the mission” of protecting the United States from immigrants whom he considers gang members, drug traffickers, former prisoners and former residents of mental institutions.
He reiterated: “I want to express the pain and horror that our entire nation feels because of yesterday’s terrorist attack in our nation’s capital, in which two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot by a brutal man.”
P (efe, AFP)