By Michael Katz | Thursday, December 11, 2025, 7:13 PM EST
On Thursday, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, came under sharp criticism for describing an ambush that killed one U.S. National Guardsman and critically injured another in Washington, D.C., on the night before Thanksgiving as an “unfortunate situation.”
The incident occurred during a hearing where Thompson questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about worldwide threats to the United States. Thompson began his questioning by referencing statements from Noem and Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, who had characterized the attack as an “unfortunate accident.”
Noem became irate when Thompson used that phrasing, stating: “You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack.” She further identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, as the suspect who shot National Guardsmen in the head.
Thompson noted that Noem had blamed the attack solely on former President Joe Biden and questioned whether Lakanwal’s asylum application was approved by the Trump administration in April—a detail widely reported. Lakanwal entered the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era resettlement program launched after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
During the hearing, Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., interjected: “That was a murder that took place in D.C. It was not an unfortunate incident. And those comments are effin’ disrespectful. I expect better from the ranking member.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Thompson’s remarks on X, calling them “a disgraceful thing to say.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X: “The killing of National Guardsman [Spc.] Sarah Beckstrom was not an ‘unfortunate accident.’ It was a premeditated terrorist attack. Bennie Thompson should apologize and retract this disgusting remark.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer condemned Thompson’s description, stating on X: “Rep. Bennie Thompson described the brutal terror attack that left two National Guardsmen wounded as a mere ‘unfortunate accident.’ This is beyond outrageous and is a disgusting insult to every American who wears the uniform.”
The Department of Homeland Security announced on X: “DISGUSTING. @BennieGThompson, the shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. was not an ‘unfortunate accident.’ It was a TERRORIST attack. The Afghan nationals who entered the United States under Operation Allies Welcome were unvetted.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin added: “Sickening.” Rep. Claudia Tenney stated on X: “A National Guard soldier was MURDERED in broad daylight, and another was severely injured in a terrorist attack. Not an ‘unfortunate accident.'”
Thompson previously led the House select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
