Donald Trump expressed strong sentiments on social media following the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House. The incident occurred while the US president was at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Despite being away, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump was briefed on the situation and that the White House was closely monitoring the events.
In a subsequent social media post, Trump stated that the National Guards had sustained critical injuries and were being treated at hospitals. The suspect, who was also severely wounded, was promised to face severe consequences, according to Trump’s statement on Truth Social.
Trump’s post on the platform read, “The perpetrator responsible for critically injuring the two National Guardsmen, who are currently receiving treatment in separate medical facilities, will face severe repercussions. My thoughts are with our Great National Guard, as well as all our Military and Law Enforcement personnel. They are truly exceptional individuals. As the President of the United States, and on behalf of the entire Presidential Office, we stand in solidarity with you.”
Following Trump’s announcement, West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey initially reported the deaths of the two National Guard members but later retracted the statement due to conflicting reports on their condition. He expressed sorrow and assured ongoing contact with federal authorities as investigations continued.
During a press briefing in Washington DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI director Kash Patel confirmed that the two injured soldiers were in critical condition at the hospital. Mayor Bowser described the incident as a targeted shooting.