Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has stoked tensions by blaming President Donald Trump for the death of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C., arguing his deployment of military personnel to U.S. cities created unnecessary risks.
In an interview with CNN host Sara Sidner, Wasserman Schultz said Trump “should blame himself” for policies that put troops “in harm’s way,” following Wednesday’s ambush-style shooting that left two members of the D.C. National Guard dead.
The victims, identified as Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, were gunned down near the White House in an attack authorities said was carried out by an Afghan national.“The president looks everywhere except inward to blame his own policies,” Wasserman Schultz said. “We need to make sure we don’t have our military deployed in our cities handling law enforcement responsibilities.”
The Florida Democrat, who once chaired the Democratic National Committee, suggested that Trump’s “crackdown” on crime through the deployment of National Guard units had made the capital a target.
“This begs the question,” she told CNN, “would an individual have flown across the country to target law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C.? The answer is likely no. So why wasn’t the president’s first thought, ‘Maybe I should reconsider deploying military troops in the nation’s capital?’”
Trump announced the surge of federal personnel earlier this year, citing rising crime and strained police resources in major cities. The move followed violent protests and years of what Trump called “lawlessness and decay” under Democratic leadership.
The crackdown led to visible improvements in public safety — including what D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, recently described as an 87% drop in carjackings since the deployment began. But critics such as Wasserman Schultz argue the operation blurred the line between military and civilian law enforcement.
“Particularly when there hasn’t been coordination with local leadership. This administration is crossing dangerous lines,” she said.
The suspect in Wednesday’s attack, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was described by authorities as a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States under the Biden administration’s resettlement program for Afghan war allies. The FBI said Lakanwal had been on the radar of immigration officials but was never flagged as a threat.
The White House quickly rejected Wasserman Schultz’s remarks, issuing a forceful statement through spokeswoman Abigail Jackson.
“This animal would’ve never been here if not for Joe Biden’s dangerous policies, which allowed countless unvetted criminals to invade our country and harm the American people,” Jackson said. “The Trump administration is taking every measure possible — in the face of unrelenting Democrat opposition — to get these monsters out of our country and clean up the mess made by the Biden administration.”
Jackson accused Democrats of “defending terrorists instead of protecting Americans,” noting that the administration’s new ‘Reverse Migration Plan’ seeks to remove thousands of migrants who entered the country under Biden-era refugee programs.
The exchange underscored how the political debate over immigration and public safety has intensified since the D.C. shooting, which officials have described as a deliberate act of anti-American violence.
In her interview, Wasserman Schultz also pushed back against Trump’s renewed call to review and reinterview refugees admitted during Biden’s presidency, saying it risked “sweeping generalizations” that could stigmatize legitimate wartime allies.
“If there were gaps that admitted this person, they would have failed over multiple levels,” she said. “And this individual was trusted enough to participate in assisting our military during the war in Afghanistan.”
Administration officials say the president’s upcoming public safety package, expected to be announced next week, will include expanded federal authority to revoke asylum and refugee status for any foreign national charged with violent crimes.
MUST SEE: President Trump Reveals Anonymous Person Who Wanted To Pay Troops $130 Million During Shutdown 
An anonymous donor stepped in to cover $130 million in military salaries during the ongoing government shutdown, President Donald J. Trump announced Thursday.
The donation ensures that U.S. service members continue to receive paychecks despite the obstructionist Democrat-led shutdown that has paralyzed Washington.
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Trump, addressing supporters, called the donor a “friend” of the military and the nation, emphasizing that the contribution was made with no desire for recognition.
“This is what true American patriots do,” Trump said, highlighting the generosity and commitment to the men and women in uniform who protect the nation every day.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Friday that the Department of War had accepted the $130 million donation under its general gift acceptance authority.
The funds are specifically earmarked to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits, a move designed to shield troops from the chaos caused by Democratic inaction.
Millions of federal employees have already faced delayed paychecks and shuttered offices on day 24 of the shutdown, the second-longest in U.S. history.
Experts in the mainstream media and liberal think tanks have raised questions about the legality of such a donation, but conservatives argue that the priority is ensuring troops are paid, not political games.
Romina Boccia of the Cato Institute warned about congressional restrictions, but Trump’s administration is clearly focused on practical solutions rather than bureaucratic delays.Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, yet when Democrats choose to weaponize government shutdowns against service members, patriotism finds its own path.
The anonymous donor represents the type of American who steps up when the federal government fails, a silent hero acting in the national interest.
Under Pentagon rules, gifts above $10,000 are vetted to ensure no conflicts of interest, yet the administration has confirmed the donation passed all necessary scrutiny.
The magnitude of the gift demonstrates both the urgency of the crisis and the level of support that the American people have for the military, something Democrats consistently fail to respect.
Defense officials did not reveal whether the donor is a U.S. citizen or a foreign national, but the focus remains squarely on honoring the troops.
The government shutdown has created a humanitarian crisis for federal employees and disrupted programs, but Trump’s leadership has ensured that the military does not suffer.
Covering military pay for the first half of October cost roughly $6.5 billion. While $130 million may seem small, it represents a critical lifeline during a period of unprecedented bureaucratic gridlock.
Trump praised the anonymous donor’s patriotism, noting that this contribution directly offsets the shortfall caused by Democrats refusing to pass a spending bill.
“He called us and said, ‘I’d like to contribute personally because I love the military and I love the country,’” Trump told supporters, highlighting the personal devotion behind the donation.
By contrast, Democrats in Washington continue to stall funding bills, leaving tens of millions of Americans in uncertainty and undermining essential government operations.
Critics may argue over legality, but conservatives insist that morality and duty to the troops outweigh procedural nitpicking when soldiers are waiting for their paychecks.
The anonymous donation underscores a broader point: real Americans, not career politicians, are stepping up to protect the country and its defenders.