Democrats and several media outlets had spent months warning that President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard could lead to unrest or interfere with the 2026 midterm elections, remarks that preceded the Wednesday shooting of two National Guardsmen near the White House.

Officials said the guardsmen were critically injured after being shot just blocks from the executive mansion.

In August, Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in an interview that the possibility of Trump sending the National Guard to Chicago was “an attack on the American people.”

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Pritzker claimed the president would use the Guard to “stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections.”

J.B. Pritzker claimed that President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard was an “attack on the American people” and will be used to “stop the 2026 elections.”

Two Guardsmen are now dead about being shot on the streets in DC. pic.twitter.com/XWkqwbNn6R

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 26, 2025

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Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin made similar comments during an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday.

Slotkin had posted a video on Nov. 18 urging service members and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders” from the Trump administration.

We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.

The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.

Don’t give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r

— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025

On-air, she raised concerns about the Guard potentially opening fire on Americans.

“My primary concern is the use of U.S. military on American shores … in our cities and in our streets,” Slotkin said.

“We’ve seen now the courts overturn the deployment of U.S. military into our streets, including here in Washington, D.C. When you look at these videos coming out of places like Chicago, it makes me incredibly nervous that we’re about to see people in law enforcement, people in uniformed military, get nervous, get stressed, shoot at American civilians.”

Slotkin added: “It is … a very, very stressful situation for these law enforcement and for the communities on the ground. So it was basically a warning to say, like, if you’re asked to do something, particularly against American citizens, you have the ability to go to your JAG officer and push back.”

Sen. Elissa Slotkin went on TV last Sunday and claimed that National Guardsmen were going to start shooting at American civilians.

Two Guardsmen have now been wounded after being shot on the streets in DC. pic.twitter.com/lKKrqxYFWu

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 26, 2025

“The View” co-host Joy Behar also expressed concerns about the Guard’s deployment.

On Oct. 7, Behar claimed the National Guard would prevent Americans from voting.

“This is a pretext to stop the next election,” Behar said.

“That’s what I think it is.”

The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed on X that a suspect was taken into custody for Wednesday’s shooting but did not release a motive.

UPDATE: The scene is secured. One suspect is in custody.

— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) November 26, 2025

President Trump wrote on Truth Social that the two injured Guardsmen were in critical condition.

“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,” Trump wrote.

“These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”

Republican West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially posted on X that the two Guardsmen, both from West Virginia, had died from their injuries, but later said there were “conflicting reports about the condition” of the victims.

It is with great sorrow that we can confirm both members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot earlier today in Washington, DC have passed away from their injuries. These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country. We are in ongoing contact…

— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) November 26, 2025

FBI Director Kash Patel and Metropolitan Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed during a Wednesday afternoon press conference that the Guardsmen remained in “critical condition.”

President Trump deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C., in August under Section 40 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, citing rising crime across the city.

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