US President Donald Trump has condemned the shooting that left two national guardsmen critically injured near Washington DC’s Farragut metro station, vowing that the attacker “will pay a very steep price”.
The incident, which unfolded on Wednesday barely a mile from the White House, triggered a full security lockdown around the presidential complex. Emergency responders, police vehicles and heavily armed officers flooded the area, where National Guard troops have been on patrol for months.
Police swiftly cordoned off several surrounding blocks and confirmed that a suspect had been taken into custody.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been fully briefed and that officials were “actively monitoring” the situation.
Moments later, Trump took to Truth Social, revealing that both Guardsmen had been rushed to different hospitals in critical condition. He described the shooter as “the animal” and insisted the individual would face severe consequences.
The President expressed solidarity with the National Guard and with Americans shaken by yet another act of violence.
More than 2,300 National Guard personnel have been stationed across Washington since August, after the Trump administration declared a “crime emergency” and deployed troops to reinforce local and federal law enforcement. The deployment—extended several times—is expected to continue through February 2026, despite a federal judge ruling it illegal before putting the decision on hold.
