MS NOW reporter faces backlash for his reaction to National Guard shooting
The White House is taking aim at MS NOW correspondent Ken Dilanian over his initial reaction to Wednesday’s shooting of National Guard troops in Washington D.C.
Dilanian appeared during the network’s breaking news coverage and was asked about the environment in D.C. since President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard earlier this year. He responded by noting how the National Guard’s presence has been normalized, and it was no longer seen as controversial after D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser embraced the deployment.
He then pivoted to the political climate around the country.
“Of course, you know, there’s so much controversy happening in the United States right now with ICE, who are also wearing uniforms and wearing masks,” Dilanian told MS NOW’s Katy Tur. “And so there’s — you don’t know — people walking around with uniforms in an American city. There are some Americans that might object to that. And so apparently this shooting has happened.”
2 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN CRITICALLY WOUNDED IN ‘TARGETED SHOOTING’ BLOCKS FROM WHITE HOUSE
Tur and Dilanian also questioned the legality of the National Guard deployment in D.C., citing a federal judge’s ruling that it was unlawful, which the Trump administration is appealing.
The White House’s rapid response team slammed Dilanian’s comments on social media.
“@KDilanianMSNOW, two heroes were just shot protecting our nation’s capital — and this is your takeaway?” the White House wrote on X.
“Democrats have relentlessly demonized these Patriots, calling them ‘illegal’ and even suggesting THEY might start shooting Americans. Get help. You are beyond sick,” the White House added.
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Other critics slammed the MS NOW correspondent.
“MS NOW is about to have to rebrand again. This is truly disgusting,” Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet reacted.
“How about blaming the murderer,” former ESPN reporter Ed Werder suggested.
“Ken Dilanian is a disgusting individual,” Red State writer Bonchie posted.
A spokesperson for MS NOW declined to comment.
Two National Guardsmen are in critical condition in what authorities call a targeted attack just blocks away from the White House. The gunman, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is in custody and is being treated for injuries.
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DC ambush suspect entered US under Biden rapid resettlement plan for Afghans
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under former-President Joe Biden promised to “swiftly and safely” resettle Afghan allies into the United States, but multiple sources have confirmed the D.C. National Guard shooter came in under that same Biden-era program in 2021.
Biden responded to the “targeted” attack in D.C. just before news broke of how the alleged shooter, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the United States under humanitarian parole via Operation Allies Welcome, per DHS and FBI sources, giving him permission to be in country legally.
In 2021, amid the Afghan withdrawal debacle, Biden’s Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas promised to “swiftly and safely” resettle thousands of Afghan allies into the United States and confirmed that DHS had denied evacuees from entering the U.S. due to “derogatory” information obtained during the vetting process.
After the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that was followed by a Taliban takeover of the country, the Biden administration launched a large operation to support and resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those that had helped U.S. troops in the past.
TWO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS SHOT NEAR WHITE HOUSE, AFGHAN NATIONAL SUSPECT IN CUSTODY: ‘TARGETED’
Due to the rushed nature of the evacuation, plus broader concerns over immigration and parole-release policies, fears arose over whom the country may have been letting in.
Mayorkas said during a September 2021 press conference that 120,000 people had been evacuated from Afghanistan since the beginning of the U.S. withdrawal, just months earlier. The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center found that nearly 800 aircraft evacuated thousands of people over just a 17-day period in August 2021.
At the time, Mayorkas touted the robust biometric screening and vetting process in place — in both the U.S. and transit countries — in order to make sure every individual entering the country was properly screened.
In response to a question at the time from Fox News’ Jake Gibson, Mayorkas confirmed that there already had been individuals flagged with “derogatory information” during the vetting process, but did not specify the number of people flagged.
Mayorkas assured that 400 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol employees and the Transportation Security Administration would be brought up to assist. Part of the effort included moving refugees from military bases designated by the Pentagon to house and vet refugees before they enter the United States.
Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in September 2021 after America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, had his permission to stay in the U.S. granted under Operation Allies Welcome, sources said. Authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible act of international terrorism.
FBI officials confirmed two West Virginia National Guardsmen remain in critical condition after being shot in the head during an apparent targeted attack just a few blocks from the White House.
During comments Wednesday night, President Donald Trump called Biden “a disastrous president” and “the worst in the history of our country.”
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He also ridiculed the former president for flying Lakanwal “on those infamous flights that everybody was talking about.”
“Nobody knew who was coming in, nobody knew anything about it,” Trump pointed out about the Afghan evacuation process under Biden.
He also slammed broader parole and immigration policies under Biden, claiming Lakanwal’s “status was extended under legislation signed under President Biden. “
“This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation,” Trump added, announcing that the government “must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country under Biden.”
Trump also appeared to suggest the death penalty for Lakanwal, stating toward the end of his address that “we will bring the perpetrator of this barbaric attack to swift and certain justice – if the bullet’s going in the opposite direction – (unintelligible).”
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Meanwhile, former President Biden did respond to the tragic D.C. attack, but his comments came before news of how the shooter entered the United States.
“Jill and I are heartbroken that two members of the National Guard were shot outside the White House,” Biden posted on X, just before news broke that the shooter entered the country under his administration’s rapid resettlement program.
“Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families.”
Fox News Digital Reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on the news that Lakanwal came into the United States under the Biden-era program, but did not receive a response. Attempts to reach former DHS Secretary Mayorkas also were unsuccessful in time for publication.
Senator Jim Justice demands review of Afghan visa entries after Guard members shot
Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., said the federal government needs to immediately review every special visa applicant who was allowed to enter the country during the Biden administration, after an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard members on Wednesday.
“Absolutely sickening,” Justice wrote on X. “If these new reports are true, this ‘Afghan national’ ambushed West Virginia service members in broad daylight—the very ones defending my home state, DC, and beyond.”
“We need to immediately review each and every special visa applicant who was allowed in under the former administration. This can’t happen again,” he added.
The alleged gunman entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The suspect reportedly had his asylum application approved during the Trump administration.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said he has been warning for years that efforts to facilitate the immigration of Afghans represented a “grave danger.”
“I’ve been warning for years that there was grave danger in the far-too-successful effort to facilitate the immigration of people from Afghanistan,” Lee wrote on X.
“I wish more had heeded those warnings, especially after today’s tragedy,” he added, after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
The Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll made a statement on X about his recent visit to the wounded National Guard members recovering after their attack in Washington, D.C., calling the incident “horrific” and expressing support for the troops and their families.
“I visited our injured National Guardsmen in the hospital today. My heart breaks for them, their families, and those impacted by the horrific attack in our Nation’s capital,” Driscoll said in a statement.
Driscoll praised the service and sacrifice of the National Guard, mentioning their commitment to protecting Americans both at home and abroad.
“Every one of our National Guardsmen made a courageous decision to serve their community and their nation,” he said. “They serve selflessly to safeguard our way of life.”
Driscoll has not yet released any additional details about the ongoing investigation but he did emphasized continued support for the Guardsmen and their families as they recover.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., highlighted that the U.S. House, including most of the Republicans, had voted to ease vetting and increase visas for Afghan nationals wanting to enter the U.S. during the Biden administration.
Please pray for our National Guardsmen and their families,” Massie wrote on X, after an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard members on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Massie noted that while most of the lower chamber voted in favor of the measure, he was one of 16 Republicans who voted against it.
“The news probably won’t tell you this: the U.S. House of Representatives voted to relax vetting and increase visas for Afghan nationals seeking to enter the United States during the Biden administration, but I voted no,” the congressman said.
AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver pushed back in a forceful statement after two West Virginia National Guardsmen were shot in Washington, D.C., calling the attack tragic but warning that it must not be used to target Afghan immigrants.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic attack in Washington, DC, and our hearts go out to the West Virginia National Guardsmen and their families,” VanDiver said.
VanDiver stressed that the group will “reject and condemn anyone who uses, or seeks to use, violence,” and said AfghanEvac supports the shooter facing “full accountability and prosecution under the law.”
He also made it clear he does not want people to use the actions of one man to represent the Afghan community.
“This individual alone is responsible for his actions,” he said. “This individual’s isolated and violent act should not be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community.”
VanDiver criticized efforts to politicize the tragedy. “Those who would twist this moment to attack Afghan families aren’t seeking safety or justice — they’re exploiting division and endangering all of us,” his statement read.
VanDiver said AfghanEvac will stand ready “to support healing, to speak truth, to demand justice for the victims,” and urged leaders to reject rhetoric that “seeks to sow fear and hate.”
Vice President JD Vance said Afghan refugees allowed entry into the U.S. in 2021 “shouldn’t have been in our country” after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members on Wednesday.
“I remember back in 2021 criticizing the Biden policy of opening the floodgate to unvetted Afghan refugees. Friends sent me messages calling me a racist. It was a clarifying moment,” Vance wrote on X. “They shouldn’t have been in our country.”
“Many of our voters will demand not just words, but action, and this is an entirely appropriate response. We will first bring the shooter to justice, and then we must redouble our efforts to deport people with no right to be in our country,” he continued.
“Already some voices in corporate media chirp that our immigration policies are too harsh,” the vice president added. “Tonight is a reminder of why they’re wrong.”
The alleged gunman entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The suspect reportedly had his asylum application approved during the Trump administration.
Former President Biden responded on the social media platform X on Friday following the shooting of two National Guard service members outside the White House, calling the attack “unacceptable” and offering prayers for those injured.
“Jill and I are heartbroken. Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families,” Biden said.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and National Guard officials are expected to provide additional updates as information becomes available.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville argued that the U.S. must immediately ban “all Islam immigrants” and “deport every single Islamist” currently living in the country after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members on Wednesday.
“The Afghan terrorist who shot 2 National Guard heroes in D.C. was welcomed into this country with open arms by Joe Biden,” Tuberville wrote on X.
“We must IMMEDIATELY BAN all ISLAM immigrants and DEPORT every single Islamist who is living among us just waiting to attack,” he continued.
Former President Barack Obama weighed in Friday after several National Guard service members were shot in Washington, D.C.
Obama issued a brief statement calling for unity and offering prayers for the victims and their families.
“Violence has no place in America. Michelle and I are praying for the service members shot in Washington, D.C., today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances,” Obama wrote.
Authorities are continuing to confirm details surrounding the shooting, which officials say remains under active investigation.
Obama’s message echoes leaders across the political spectrum, many of whom have urged the public to allow investigators to do their work before drawing conclusions about the circumstances behind the incident.
The former president’s statement reflects a broader call for calm and support for the families affected.
Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller argued on Wednesday that the U.S. has “never faced a threat like this” after an Afghan national allegedly shot two members of the National Guard.
“We’ve never faced a threat like this. 20 million people brought into our country from the most failed societies on earth … no vetting, no conditions, no rules,” Miller said during an appearance on Fox News.
“For four straight years, they deluged this country — and now, more blood is being spilled as a result,” he added, referring to former President Joe Biden’s time in the White House.
The alleged gunman entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The suspect reportedly had his asylum application approved during the Trump administration.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said immigration requests related to Afghan nationals were stopped indefinitely to allow an additional review of security and vetting protocols after an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols,” USCIS said on X.
“The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission,” the post added.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday denounced the Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guardsmen, calling him a “depraved individual” who entered the United States under a Biden administration program four years ago.
In a fiery post on social media, Noem sharply rebuked critics of federal officers and warned against what she described as rising hostility toward those who serve.
“The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national who was one of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration,” Noem said. “I will not utter this depraved individual’s name. He should be starved of the glory he so desperately wants.”
Noem then shifted her remarks toward those who, she said, undermine or attack federal law enforcement and military personnel.
“These men and women of the National Guard are mothers, fathers, sisters, daughters — children of God — carrying out the same basic public safety and immigration laws that have been on the books for decades,” Noem said. “The politicians and media who continue to vilify our men and women in uniform need to take a long, hard look in the mirror.”
“Bryon and I will be praying hard for these two National Guardsmen, their families, and every American who puts on a uniform to defend our freedom,” Noem added, referring to her husband.
The FBI
is asking for the public’s help as the investigation continues into Wednesday afternoon’s shooting that left two West Virginia National Guardsmen critically injured near the White House.
In a statement posted to X, the bureau said:“The FBI continues to investigate this afternoon’s shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. If you have any information, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.”
The investigation remains ongoing heading into the Thanksgiving holiday.
President Donald Trump condemned the “heinous assault” on two National Guard members in D.C. as an “act of evil” and “a crime against our entire nation.”
Trump, speaking in a video message shared on social media from Florida, confirmed the suspect was paroled into the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden administration.
“His status was extended under legislation signed by President Biden, a disastrous president, the worst in the history of our country,” Trump said. “This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation. The last administration let in 20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners from all over the world, from places that you don’t want to even know about. No country can tolerate such a risk to our very survival.”
Trump said assaults of this nature will not be tolerated.
“We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden. And we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or any benefit to our country,” Trump said.
Trump also confirmed he would send 500 more National Guardsmen to the nation’s capital in the wake of the Thanksgiving-eve attack.
He closed his remarks with a call to prayer for the National Guardsmen who remain in critical condition.
The White House said President Donald Trump would release a video message at 9:15pm ET on Wednesday evening.
The X post did not specify what Trump would address, but the video comes hours after the ambush attack on two National Guard members just blocks from the White House.
The U.S. Marshals Service issued a message of support Wednesday evening following the shooting of two West Virginia National Guardsmen
near the White House, releasing a graphic expressing “deepest condolences” to the Guard and the families affected.
In a statement shared on X, the agency wrote: “We are heartbroken for our brothers and sisters of the National Guard. We stand by them in their darkest hour.”
The post accompanied an image bearing the Marshals Service seal and a tribute to the injured Guardsmen.
Federal and state officials continue to respond to the tragedy on the eve of Thanksgiving.
The gunman accused of shooting two National Guard members blocks from the White House the day before Thanksgiving is 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, three law enforcement sources confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Lakanwal entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible act of international terrorism.
FBI officials confirmed the two West Virginia National Guardsmen remain in critical condition.
Top National Guard leaders said Wednesday they are returning to Washington, D.C., to support fellow guardsmen in the wake of the attack that left two service members in critical condition.
Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and John T. Raines III, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, said they had originally planned to spend the holiday with troops in Guantánamo Bay, according to a video Nordhaus posted on X.
“SEA Raines and I join our entire National Guard family in praying for the recovery of the two West Virginia National Guard heroes who were shot while protecting our nation’s capital today,” Nordhaus wrote in the post.
In the video, Raines added: “The chief and I were planning to spend Thanksgiving with our Guard and Joint Force troops here on Guantánamo Bay, but we’re returning to Washington, D.C., to be with guardsmen there.”
“Our guardsmen are part of the very fabric of our nation,” Nordhaus continued. “We are devastated by this senseless act of violence, and we will remain on station to defend and protect our fellow citizens at home and abroad. Guard Nation, I am so very proud and grateful for all that you do.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he will continue cracking down on security lapses across America’s transit systems following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
“On the night before Thanksgiving, two families are hurting like never before,” Duffy wrote on X Wednesday evening. “Tonight, our nation prays for the families of two patriotic West Virginia National Guardsmen who were shot while performing the duties we asked them to do — protect the people of Washington, DC.”
Duffy said the attack underscores the need for greater safety measures and vowed to hold transit authorities accountable. He warned he would not hesitate to withhold federal funding from cities that “don’t respond adequately.”
“This is an unspeakable tragedy … a cowardly act,” Duffy said. “I will continue to do everything in my power, as Secretary of Transportation, to hold transit authorities accountable to radically improve security and safety on our public transit systems. I promise to withhold funding if cities don’t respond adequately. Our citizens deserve safe, transportation. And our brave National Guard deserves respect not violence.”
West Virginia State Sen. Chris Rose is urging prayers for the two West Virginia National Guard members shot near the White House on Wednesday, saying early reports indicate both soldiers are now undergoing surgery.
Rose called the situation dire but said he is holding out hope.“Please pray for the two brave West Virginia National Guard members who were hurt,” Rose wrote. “Reports are mixed, but word is they’re undergoing surgery. Praying they come through okay. May God perform a Thanksgiving miracle!”
The soldiers remain in critical condition following the afternoon shooting, which has rattled officials across the state. Leaders in both parties have appealed for unity and support as the Guardsmen fight for their lives heading into the holiday.
Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., confirmed Wednesday evening in an X post that the two National Guardsmen shot near the White House are West Virginia service members, calling the situation “absolutely heartbreaking.”
Moore said both soldiers are in critical condition, urging the public to join him and his wife Mina in prayer.
“Please join Mina and me in praying for them,” Moore wrote. “We need everyone praying right now for these heroes.”
The congressman said he is closely monitoring developments and promised additional updates as more facts are confirmed.
The shooting has shaken officials across West Virginia, who have described the attack as senseless, cowardly, and devastating — especially on the eve of Thanksgiving, as families await word on the soldiers’ conditions.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said officials are closely monitoring the Washington, D.C. National Guardsmen shooting investigation ahead of the Big Apple’s iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Adams said the D.C. investigation is ongoing and New York City police are “closely monitoring the situation.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch added that as of Wednesday afternoon, there appears to be no known connection to New York City.
“We know that at least two National Guard members were shot in what appears to be a targeted attack on law enforcement,” Tisch said during a news conference. “We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with our law enforcement partners in D.C.”
“At this time, there appears to be no known nexus to New York City,” she continued. “But of course, we will continue to track the situation as it develops, and more information becomes available.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday confirmed that the gunman is in custody and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, while condemning the attack as “horrific and unconscionable.”
“Today’s attack on two members of the West Virginia National Guard was horrific and unconscionable,” Bowser said in a post on X. “We can confirm that a suspect is in custody for this targeted shooting and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Our prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.”
Bowser’s remarks underscored the shock felt across the nation’s capital as details continue to emerge about the brazen attack, which unfolded in one of the most heavily secured areas of the country.
The White House fired back Wednesday after a New Yorker journalist claimed the National Guard
was being used for “political show” in Washington, D.C., shortly after two Guardsmen were shot blocks from the White House.
“This is so tragic, so unnecessary, these poor guardsmen should never have been deployed,” Jane Mayer, a staff writer at The New Yorker, wrote on X. “I live in DC and watched as they had virtually nothing to do but pick up trash. It was for political show and at what a cost.”
The White House swiftly blasted the criticism, defending the National Guard as “American Patriots” who have “saved countless lives.”
“You sick, disgusting ghoul,” the White House Rapid Response account replied. “Two of these heroes were just SHOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. The Guard has saved countless lives — backed up by evidence (which you’re clearly too stupid to notice). They are American Patriots.”
West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Delegate Josh Holstein, 24, said the state is “outraged and devastated” after two West Virginia National Guardsmen were shot in Washington, D.C., Wednesday afternoon.
Holstein condemned the shooting as a “heinous” and “cowardly” act in a statement to Fox News Digital, calling it not only an attack on those who serve but “an attack on our state and on the very values that hold this country together.”
He praised the daily sacrifices of law enforcement and service members, saying they “selflessly put their lives on the line” to protect communities from violence and disorder.
“West Virginia stands united behind our National Guard, our military, and our law enforcement officers who embody courage and sacrifice in the face of danger,” Holstein said.
He urged West Virginians to pray for the injured soldiers and their families as the state awaits updates on their conditions and called for those responsible to be held fully accountable.
“The strength and spirit of our state and our nation are far greater than any act of violence,” he added.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
FBI Director Kash Patel
said the two West Virginia National Guardsmen wounded in a shooting Wednesday near the White House remain in critical condition, correcting an earlier report from Gov. Patrick Morrisey that the pair had died.
Jeffery Carroll, executive assistant chief of specialized operations at the Metropolitan Police Department, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed during a news conference the attack was targeted, noting the alleged gunman “immediately” opened fire at the service members.
The armed Guardsmen were on high visibility patrols near 17th and High Street NW when the suspect came around the corner, raised his arm with a gun, and shot at the National Guard members, according to Carroll.
Other Guardsmen in the area heard the gunshots and were able to subdue the suspect and take him into custody, officials said.
The alleged gunman, who has not yet been identified, was also shot and taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to Carroll.
President Donald Trump condemned the shooter suspected of critically wounding two National Guardsmen in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, calling the individual an “animal” and vowing they will “pay a very steep price.”
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,” Trump posted to his Truth Social account Wednesday afternoon.
Trump emphasized his support for the U.S. military and law enforcement, calling them “truly great people.”
“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement,” the president said. “These are truly great people. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”
House Speaker Mike Johnson
confirmed Wednesday that a suspect is in custody following the shooting of two National Guardsmen near the White House.
In a statement shared on X, Johnson urged Americans to “join us in prayer for the National Guardsmen who were shot… and for their loved ones too.”
He praised the Guard for its “heroic work this year working around the clock to make our nation’s capital safe again,” and thanked law enforcement for their swift response.The shooting comes amid heightened security activity in Washington, where National Guard units have been assisting federal agencies with crowd control and safety operations.
“We are forever grateful for those who risk their own lives to protect everyone else,” Johnson said.
Sec. of War Pete Hegseth said the suspected gunman in the Washington, D.C. shooting on Wednesday “targeted” National Guardsmen.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed two of the state’s Guardsmen were wounded in the attack, which happened just blocks from the White House.
“Myself and my team were notified that two National Guardsmen had been shot in Washington, D.C., critically wounded,” Hegseth told the media during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. “The shooter shot in a cowardly, dastardly act, targeting the best of America—heroes willing to serve in Washington, D.C., serve for people they don’t know and they’ve never met, because they love their country, capital and community.”
In the wake of the attack, Hegseth said the administration will “never back down,” adding President Donald Trump directed him to deploy 500 additional National Guard troops to the nation’s capital.
“Someone decided to turn that into targeting National Guardsmen,” Hegseth continued. “That will only stiffen our resolve. We will never back down. We will secure our capital. We will secure our cities. In fact, this happened just steps away from the White House. It will not stand. … This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, D.C. safe and beautiful.”
Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday called on Americans, particularly people of faith, to pray for the two National Guard members who were shot roughly a mile from the White House.
Speaking to U.S. service members at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, the vice president encouraged the public to pray that the two National Guardsmen recover and are able to spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones.
“I want everybody who’s a person of faith to say a prayer for those two National Guardsmen that they’re able to spend Thanksgiving with their families instead of losing their lives, because I understand they’re still in pretty tough condition,” Vance said.
The vice president described the incident as a “somber reminder” of the risks America’s service members face each day, describing U.S. soldiers as the “sword and the shield of the United States of America.”
“And as a person who goes into work every single day in that building and knows that there are a lot of people who wear the uniform of the United States Army
, let me just say very personally — thank them for what they’re doing,” Vance said. “We’re grateful to them, and we’re praying that they’re going to be safe and they’re going to spend Thanksgiving with their families. God bless them.”
West Virginia
Gov. Patrick Morrisey quickly retracted a statement confirming two West Virginia Guardsmen died following a shooting Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
“We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information,” Morrisey wrote in his most recent X post. “Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community.”
Morrisey previously said one of the service members was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other was taken to a nearby hospital, where they later died.
The wounded Guardsmen’s identities have not yet been released.
It is unclear if their families have been notified.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed the two members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot Wednesday in Washington, D.C. have died.
One of the Guardsmen was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other was taken to a nearby hospital, according to Morrisey.
“These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country,” Morrisey wrote in an X post. “We are in ongoing contact with federal officials as the investigation continues.”
“Our entire state grieves with their families, their loved ones, and the Guard community,” he continued. “West Virginia will never forget their service or their sacrifice, and we will demand full accountability for this horrific act.”
Parents win battle against school boards with judge’s ruling on vaccine mandates
A West Virginia judge ruled on Wednesday that parents can use religious beliefs to opt out of school vaccine requirements for their children.
Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble on Wednesday issued a permanent injunction, saying children of families who object to the state’s compulsory vaccination law on religious grounds will be permitted to attend school and participate in extracurricular sports.
Froble found that a state policy prohibiting parents from seeking religious exemptions violates the Equal Protection for Religion Act signed into law in 2023 by then-Gov. Jim Justice.
West Virginia was among just a handful of states to offer only medical exemptions from school vaccinations when Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order earlier this year allowing religious exemptions.
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However, the state Board of Education voted in June to instruct public schools to ignore the governor’s order and follow long-standing school vaccine requirements outlined in state law.
The board said following Wednesday’s ruling that it “hereby suspends the policy on compulsory vaccination requirements” pending an appeal before the state Supreme Court.
Morrisey said in a statement that the ruling “is a win for every family forced from school over their faith.”
Two groups had sued to stop Morrisey’s order, arguing that the legislature has the authority to make these decisions instead of the governor.
Legislation that would have allowed the religious exemptions was approved by the state Senate and rejected by the House of Delegates earlier this year.
The judge ruled that the failure to pass the legislation did not determine the application of the 2023 law. He rejected the defendants’ argument that religious exemptions can only be established by legislative moves.
“Legislative intent is not absolute nor controlling in interpreting a statute or determining its application; at most, it is a factor,” Froble said.
A group of parents had sued the state and local boards of education and the Raleigh County schools superintendent. One parent had obtained a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate from the state health department and enrolled her child in elementary school for the current school year before receiving an email in June from the local school superintendent rescinding the certificate, according to the lawsuit.
In July, Froble issued a preliminary injunction allowing the children of the three plaintiffs’ families in Raleigh County to attend school this year.
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Last month, Froble certified the case as a class action involving 570 families who had received religious exemptions in other parts of the state. He said the class action also applies to parents who seek religious exemptions in the future.
Froble said the total number of exemptions so far involved a small portion of the statewide student population and “would not meaningfully reduce vaccination rates or increase health risks.”
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State law requires children to receive vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough before attending school.
At least 30 states have religious freedom laws. The laws are modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law in 1993 by then-President Bill Clinton, allowing federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.
Protesters block traffic outside one of nation’s busiest airports ahead of Thanksgiving
Holiday travelers heading to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) faced severe disruptions as hundreds of protesters blocked the road outside during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, according to reports.
The demonstrations brought traffic outside the main airport building to a standstill, forcing people to abandon their cars and walk to the airport to catch their flights on time, according to FOX 11.
On Tuesday, the protesters marched onto Century Boulevard, blocking a major entrance to the airport and shutting down traffic around LAX’s main pickup and drop-off zones.
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Police in riot gear arrived and cleared the intersection shortly after 6:15 p.m., gradually allowing traffic to resume.
Fox News reported another protest broke out in Terminal 7 Wednesday morning involving workers from USWW, the nation’s largest security officers union.
At the center of the protest outside the airport is an escalating labor dispute with Flying Food Group, one of LAX’s largest airline catering contractors.
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Unite Here Local 11 and employees of Flying Food Group are demanding a new contract with higher wages while raising safety and labor concerns.
“Honestly, people don’t care about the people who make food and put it on their plates,” Susan Minato, co-president of Unite Here Local 11 told FOX 11.
“We wanted to make a statement.”
AIRLINES CANCEL FLIGHTS AS AIRPORTS EXPERIENCE ‘MAJOR DISRUPTIONS’ OVER PROTESTS, STRIKES
Minato acknowledged the disruption but defended the timing, arguing that demonstrations during peak travel periods are necessary to draw attention.
“It is a busy time of the year, no question,” she said. “But that’s also how you get some attention.”
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Earlier this year, the union successfully pushed for a city ordinance raising the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 by 2028.
While protests through Wednesday were not expected to block vehicle access, the New York Post reported that police were still preparing for disruptions amid the main holiday travel rush.
Common sleep problem tied to a serious neurological disorder in major new study
A major new study has found a notable connection between untreated sleep apnea and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
A team of researchers from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) studied more than 11 million veterans aged 40 and older who did not already have Parkinson’s disease.
Some of them had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The researchers then tracked who went on to develop Parkinson’s over an average of nearly five years.
‘SOCIAL SLEEP APNEA’ COULD BE RUINING YOUR WEEKEND REST, STUDY SUGGESTS
They also examined veterans who began continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy within two years of their sleep apnea diagnosis, searching for any difference in Parkinson’s outcomes compared with those who delayed or never started CPAP.
Dr. Greg Scott, an Oregon-based pathologist and co-author of the study, called the findings “surprising” in a press release.
“People who still got Parkinson’s but had been on CPAP had fewer fractures, fewer falls and lower mortality. We tested this rigorously and the result kept happening,” he said.
The research, published in JAMA Neurology, draws on records from U.S. veterans who were treated through the Department of Veterans Affairs between 1999 and 2022. Data were adjusted for age, sex, race, smoking and other health factors.
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Veterans with untreated sleep apnea were almost twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s as those without apnea, the study found. Over about five years, this translated into roughly one to two additional Parkinson’s cases per 1,000 people.
Among veterans who began CPAP therapy early, the risk was about 30% lower.
That reduction amounted to approximately 2.3 fewer Parkinson’s cases per 1,000 people, meaning that early CPAP treatment could prevent one case for every 439 individuals treated over five years.
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“The best strategy for a neurodegenerative disease is prevention and catching risk factors early, before the damage is done,” said Scott.
The researchers propose several potential reasons for this link. Repeated drops in oxygen during sleep can damage neurons, increase inflammation and and interfere with the brain’s ability to clear out waste, allowing toxic proteins to accumulate.
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“If you stop breathing several times an hour and your oxygen levels are dropping … you’re essentially stunning those brain cells every time that is happening,” said Dr. Lee Neilson, OHSU neurologist and lead author of the study, in the same press release.
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By stabilizing oxygen and improving sleep continuity, scientists believe CPAP may reduce those stresses and protect brain tissue over time.
The study’s authors emphasized, however, that their findings only show an association between the sleep disorder and neurological disease.
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Because this was an observational analysis, it cannot definitively prove that sleep apnea causes Parkinson’s.
The team also lacked detailed data on how consistently participants used their CPAP devices. Also, most veterans in the study were older men, which means the results may not be generalized to other populations.
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Additionally, the researchers noted that early signs of Parkinson’s, including sleep disturbances, might have led some individuals to be diagnosed with apnea in the first place.
Tech giant could soon dethrone world’s top smartphone maker for the first time in years
Apple’s smartphone shipments in 2025 are expected to top Samsung’s for the first time in over a decade and become the world’s leading seller of smartphones, according to a new report.
An analysis by Counterpoint Research found that global smartphone shipments will rise by 3.3% year over year in 2025, with much of the gain driven by Apple.
Shipments of iPhones are expected to climb 10% year over year in 2025, in part because of growing demand for the iPhone 17 series in key regions.
Counterpoint projected that Apple’s shipments will reach 19.4% in 2025, which would make Apple the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer for the first time since 2011.
NEW APPLE IPHONE 17 GOES ON SALE WORLDWIDE
Samsung’s shipments are expected to increase 4.6% year over year and reach a global share of 18.7%, slipping out of first place for the first time in over a decade.
“Beyond the highly positive market reception for the iPhone 17 series, the key driver behind the upgraded shipment outlook lies in the replacement cycle reaching its inflection point,” said senior analyst Yang Wang.
“Consumers who purchased smartphones during the COVID-19 boom are now entering their upgrade phase. Furthermore, 358 million second-hand iPhones were sold between 2023 and Q2 2025. These users are also likely to upgrade to a new iPhone in the coming years.”
APPLE, MICROSOFT HIT $4T MILESTONE
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | APPLE INC. | 277.55 | +0.58 | +0.21% |
| SSNLF | SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD. | 65.21 | +24.61 | +60.62% |
That base of consumer demand is expected to help Apple retain its newly regained lead among smartphone manufacturers through 2029, according to the analysis.
Samsung’s strategic move to the A series is expected to reinforce momentum in emerging markets through its stronger specifications and competitive pricing, while, in mature markets, Samsung’s move to premium offerings is expected to help it defend market share, Counterpoint projected.
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Chinese smartphone manufacturers are expected to rely further on overseas markets to fuel growth, while also moving into higher-priced segments with premium features to boost profitability.
Counterpoint said that diversification should allow the Chinese manufacturers to strengthen their revenue, while their rankings in terms of shipments are expected to hold steady through 2029.
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Charlotte murder suspect’s odd police interaction months before train stabbing: bodycam
Newly released bodycam footage shows Charlotte light rail murder suspect Decarlos Brown Jr. telling officers that a “man-made material” was controlling his body months before he allegedly stabbed Iryna Zarutska to death.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released footage on Tuesday of officers responding to a welfare check concerning Brown in January. Brown called 911 himself to report that a “man-made material” had been placed inside his body and was controlling him.
One officer at the scene questioned Brown, asking, “You think you got somebody inside controlling you?”
Brown doubled down and said the material was placed inside him without his “permission or authorization,” adding that it controls all of his bodily functions, including what he eats.
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“I need you guys to investigate due to the fact that medic ain’t got no test or scan to investigate what my body got exposed to,” Brown said.
Brown could be seen in the bodycam footage explaining that he “woke up on the ground” and that “somebody did something to my body.”
The incident took place months before Brown allegedly killed 23-year-old Zarutska on a LYNX Blue Line light rail in August. Authorities have described the violent stabbing attack as unprovoked.
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During the nearly 30-minute encounter, officers advised Brown to seek medical evaluation at a hospital.
While officers were still at the scene, Brown placed a second 911 call requesting assistance. He was arrested and charged with misuse of the 911 system.
Brown told the officers that doctors had tried to diagnose him with schizophrenia, but that “they got it wrong.”
“I’m mentally perfect,” he added.
Despite Brown’s comments, CMPD said officers did not initiate an involuntary commitment because he did not verbalize intent to harm himself or others.
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North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records reveal that Brown has an extensive criminal record, including convictions for larceny, breaking and entering, and armed robbery.
He began a five-year prison sentence in 2015.
6 forgotten Thanksgiving dishes your grandparents actually served at holiday tables
Thanksgiving may be a time for turkey — but for many people, the real stars of the holiday table have been the sides.
While mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and mac and cheese might be the most popular dishes to pass around the table, the spreads of decades ago looked very different.
From oyster stuffing to rich gravies that didn’t let any part of the bird go to waste, several dishes tell the story of how America used to cook and celebrate.
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Here’s a look at six.
1. Oyster stuffing
Oyster dressing called for combining shucked oysters and their brine with classic stuffing ingredients including bread, celery and spices.
It was a Thanksgiving staple in the 1800s, when oysters were regularly available for purchase from refrigerated railcars, Food52 reported.
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The dish, with roots in British culinary traditions, fell out of favor in the Northeast as oyster populations declined and tastes shifted toward ingredients such as sausage.
2. Ambrosia salad
Often made with canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows and whipped topping, ambrosia salad was once considered a symbol of luxury on Thanksgiving tables in the 1800s and early 1900s, Chowhound reported.
Though it has since fallen out of fashion, it remains a nostalgic Southern favorite. It’s also inspired regional variations such as frog eye salad, which adds a tiny, round pasta, and Watergate salad, which has a pistachio pudding twist.
3. Mashed turnips
Once considered a “poor man’s” vegetable, turnips offered a slightly sweeter and less starchy alternative to potatoes and were mashed with butter and seasoned for a lighter, earthy alternative.
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Though they’ve fallen out of favor due to their reputation and the risk of a bitter taste if overcooked, food experts say it may be time for this humble root to make a comeback.
4. Corn pudding
This creamy, custard-like mix of corn, eggs, cream and butter was once a Thanksgiving favorite, somewhere between cornbread and creamed corn.
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Dating back to precolonial times, corn pudding has many regional versions, from Pennsylvania Dutch recipes made with dried corn to New England’s sweeter Indian pudding, which is made with molasses.
5. Giblet gravy
Traditional Thanksgiving gravy once got its rich, savory flavor from simmering the giblets — the turkey’s liver, heart, gizzard and neck.
The old-fashioned method faded from tradition partly because modern turkeys are sold without giblets and store-bought gravy mixes have become more convenient, according to The Daily Meal.
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6. Cranberry fluff
A colorful mix of cranberries, marshmallows, applesauce and whipped cream, cranberry fluff was a popular 1960s and 1970s Thanksgiving treat that reflected the era’s love of gelatin-based “salads.”
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A favorite in the South, the fluff is often speckled with pecans and served right alongside the main Thanksgiving meal.