Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem forcefully pushed back on Thursday after Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the committee, referred to the fatal shooting of a National Guardsman in Washington, D.C., as an “unfortunate accident.” The tense exchange unfolded during a Homeland Security hearing on global threats, where Thompson questioned Noem and a representative of the National Counterterrorism Center.
Thompson opened by describing the November killing of a Guardsman and the wounding of another as an “unfortunate accident.” Noem immediately rejected that characterization. “You think that was an unfortunate accident?” she shot back. “It was a terrorist attack!”
Thompson appeared flustered, attempting to walk back his wording. “I mean, wait, wait. I’ll get it straight then you can—” he said, before Noem cut in again: “He shot our National Guardsman in the head!”
Still refusing to call the killing an act of terrorism, Thompson insisted it was “an unfortunate situation,” before accusing Noem of unfairly blaming President Biden. He then claimed the suspect’s asylum application had been approved under the Trump administration — a point Noem immediately disputed. She clarified that the asylum process “was put into place under the rules established by the Biden administration.”
Thompson doubled down, warning Noem not to make statements that could trigger perjury charges, while insisting DHS under Trump approved the application. Before Noem could respond further, a Republican lawmaker intervened sharply: “Point of order, Mr. Chairman. That was a murder that took place in D.C. It was not an unfortunate incident. And those comments are effing disrespectful!”
The facts surrounding the case have only intensified criticism of Thompson’s remarks. The victim, 20-year-old West Virginia National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, died one day after she and 24-year-old Guardsman Andrew Wolfe were shot while deployed to Washington, D.C., by the Trump administration to help combat violent crime.
Authorities arrested 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan immigrant living in Washington state with his wife and five children. Lakanwal, who previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, has been charged with murder, multiple counts of assault with intent to kill, and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to ABC News, the FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of international terrorism — clear evidence that authorities are exploring whether the attack was inspired by a foreign terrorist organization.
The clash between Noem and Thompson highlights a broader divide between Democrats downplaying the incident and Republicans insisting it represents the consequences of Biden’s lax immigration and asylum policies. For Noem, the issue is not just political — it is about acknowledging the reality of an attack that took the life of an American service member.
As the terrorism investigation continues, one thing is certain: calling the killing of a National Guardsman an “unfortunate accident” has sparked outrage on Capitol Hill, with Republicans demanding accountability and clarity about how such a suspect entered the United States.
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