Former Rep. Gabbard Criticizes Democrat Thompson for Downplaying National Guard Shooting Incident

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has sharply criticized Rep. Bennie Thompson for referring to the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., as an “unfortunate accident” during a congressional hearing.

During Thursday’s “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland” hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, Thompson, the committee’s ranking Democrat, made the controversial remark while addressing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

“It is absolutely infuriating,” Gabbard said during an appearance on Fox & Friends. “He cannot and refuses to directly identify this attack for what it was, a terrorist attack on our own soil against our National Guard, men and women in this case, who are putting their lives on the line.”

The incident in question occurred on Thanksgiving Eve when two National Guard members were shot blocks from the White House, allegedly by an Afghan refugee. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was killed in the attack, while Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe sustained critical injuries.

During the heated exchange at the hearing, Thompson said, “Madam Secretary, you and the gentleman from NCTC reference the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsman being killed.”

Noem immediately challenged Thompson’s characterization, responding firmly, “You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack.”

The shooting has intensified national debates about immigration policies and terrorism threats. The alleged assailant entered the United States as part of the evacuation of Afghans following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Gabbard, who was appointed Director of National Intelligence in the new administration, emphasized that the guard members were on a mission “to keep the American people safe.” She argued that Thompson’s remarks highlight “the egregious and longstanding problem” where leaders from both political parties “have refused to identify this Islamist terrorist threat for exactly what it is, which is one of the reasons why we find ourselves in the position that we’re in today.”

The incident has become politically charged, with Secretary Noem and Republican lawmakers citing it as evidence of security failures under the previous administration’s immigration policies. Democrats have pushed back against attempts to politicize the tragedy.

When questioned about his comments the following day on CNN, Thompson claimed he misspoke. “Oh, absolutely not,” the Mississippi congressman replied when asked if he stood by his “unfortunate accident” characterization. He explained he was moving toward a discussion about asylum applications and was not attempting to downplay the attack’s seriousness.

“Absolutely, I misspoke,” Thompson clarified when pressed by CNN host Kate Bolduan.

The fatal shooting has reignited concerns about vetting procedures for refugees and asylum seekers. Security experts have called for enhanced screening protocols while refugee advocates warn against broad generalizations about immigrant populations based on isolated incidents.

The National Guard members were deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of ongoing security operations in the capital. Beckstrom’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from military and civilian officials, with many highlighting the sacrifices made by National Guard personnel who balance civilian careers with their military service.

The incident represents one of the most significant attacks on U.S. military personnel on American soil in recent years and has prompted calls for a comprehensive review of security procedures around government facilities in Washington, D.C.

Federal investigators continue to examine the suspect’s background and motives as the case proceeds through the justice system.