Two members of the National Guard were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a wave of online criticism from prominent liberal commentators who blamed [1] President Donald Trump for the attack.
The shooting occurred a block from the White House shortly before 3 p.m. local time. Both guardsmen remained in critical condition as of Wednesday evening.
The troops were part of the National Guard surge President Trump ordered in August in response to rising crime in the capital.
The deployment followed several high-profile incidents, including the fatal shooting of a congressional intern earlier this year.
Democrats had opposed Trump’s decision to deploy Guard units to Washington and other cities, characterizing the move as an overreach of presidential authority.
Within hours of the shooting, several commentators revived those criticisms.
Former ESPN and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann wrote on X, “Trump put them in harm’s way, fash.”
Trump put them in harm’s way, fash
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) November 26, 2025 [2]
Jane Mayer of The New Yorker said the “poor guardsmen should never have been deployed,” adding that they had “virtually nothing to do but pick up trash.”
She wrote on X, “It was for political show and at what a cost.”
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 [3]
— Jane Mayer (@JaneMayerNYer) November 26, 2025 [4]
Author and activist John Pavlovitz similarly argued on BlueSky that “Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are culpable for endangering the National Guard by putting them in harm’s way.”
Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are culpable for endangering the National Guard by putting them in harm’s way.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz.bsky.social [5]) November 26, 2025 at 4:21 PM [6]
Writer Charlotte Clymer told her more than 200,000 followers on BlueSky that the troops had been “used as political pawns,” adding, “They sign up to serve their country, not needlessly deploy to American cities to pick up garbage.”
National Guard troops don’t sign up to be used as political pawns. They sign up to serve their country, not needlessly deploy to American cities to pick up garbage. These two soldiers should be alive right now and at home with their families for Thanksgiving. I’m furious.
— Charlotte Clymer (@charlotteclymer.bsky.social [7]) November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM [8]
Media personality Keith Edwards posted on X that the guardsmen would have been “fine” were it not for “Trump’s illegal deployment of the national guard for a non-emergency.”
We still don’t know anything about the motive but let’s be clear: if not for Trump’s illegal deployment of the national guard for a non-emergency, they’d be fine.
— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) November 26, 2025 [9]
The X account “Call to Activism,” run by commentator Joe Gallina, told its more than 1 million followers, “History will wonder what we’re all thinking: why did Trump have to put them in harm’s way for a STUNT?”
BREAKING: Both National Guard members who were shot in Washington, DC, just one block from the White House, have died from their injuries.
God bless them and their families.
History will wonder what we’re all thinking: why did Trump have to put them in harm’s way for a STUNT? pic.twitter.com/Dx8BCAhaie [10]
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) November 26, 2025 [11]
Other social media users made similar claims. One post with thousands of likes described the shooting as an “orchestrated tragedy by a president hellbent on creating a tinder box environment across the country.”
The death of two national guardsmen is a horrific tragedy.
It is also an orchestrated tragedy by a president hellbent on creating a tinder box environment across the country.
— Just Jack (@just-jack-1.bsky.social [12]) November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM [13]
Brian Beutler, a writer and former senior editor at The New Republic, reacted to an earlier incorrect claim from West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey that the guardsmen had died, writing that Morrisey had “sent them to die for a stunt.”
They should not have been here. You sent them to die for a stunt.
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) November 26, 2025 [14]
Despite the online criticism, violent crime in Washington fell significantly during the initial one-month National Guard surge.
According to city data, violent crime dropped 39% compared to the same period the year before, including a 53% decline in homicides.
Opposition to Trump’s National Guard deployments has persisted since the summer.
In August, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the president’s decision to send Guard units into his state an “attack on the American people” and claimed it would be used to “stop the 2026 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 [15]
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 26, 2025 [16]
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that one suspect was taken into custody on Wednesday.
UPDATE: The scene is secured. One suspect is in custody.
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) November 26, 2025 [17]
President Trump responded on Truth Social shortly after the attack, writing that the “animals” responsible for shooting the guardsmen will “pay a very steep price.”
Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth later announced that 500 additional troops would be deployed following the incident.
BREAKING: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announces 500 additional National Guardsmen are being deployed to Washington DC:
“President Trump has asked me to add 500 additional troops to DC. We will not back down. Pray for our National Guardsmen.”
pic.twitter.com/9AT71oQiSK [18]— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 26, 2025 [19]