Two National Guard soldiers were shot and critically wounded near 17th and I Street NW on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a rapid response from law enforcement and a temporary lockdown in the area.
The attack occurred on Thanksgiving Eve and immediately drew national attention as officials confirmed both guardsmen were hospitalized in critical condition.
During an appearance on MS NOW’s “Deadline: White House,” Rev. Al Sharpton said the guardsmen were placed “in harm’s way” because of President Donald Trump’s policies.
Speaking with host Nicole Wallace, Sharpton argued that their deployment to Washington, D.C., made them targets.
“Matter of two people fighting for their lives, guardsmen, that this president put there. And as I said, I was one that was very vocal against that. But I’m not going to belittle the fact that their lives are at stake to get into a back and forth with the president,” Sharpton said.
“I can say that if I’m a member of their families, I don’t want to hear what he’s saying about Honduras right now. I want to pray that these two guardsmen who were ordered there and who we’re being told by the mayor was ambushed, make it through.”
Following the shooting, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that President Trump ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops into Washington, D.C.
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The order brings the number of deployed personnel in the capital to roughly 2,200.
The troops have been stationed in the city since August as part of the federal response to rising crime and disorder.
Sharpton criticized the announcement of additional personnel, claiming the administration was using the attack to bolster its immigration strategy.
“And all of this about sending in 500 people, what does that have to do with where we are now? I think that we’ve got to, those of us that have been opposed to the president’s policy, show that we are not going to morally match him by going down to a level of insensitivity,” he said.
He also directed criticism at Trump supporters, referencing actions taken after the events of Jan. 6.
“There are two people fighting for their lives on Thanksgiving Eve. And it just seems ironic to me that people that pardoned people assaulting police officers are now talking about how they’re going to uphold and look up to the people in the building. People in that building were beat January 6th,” Sharpton said.
Federal officials continue to investigate the shooting.
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators will treat the attack as an assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
The troops stationed in Washington, D.C., have been serving in various public safety and support roles across the city as part of the ongoing federal crime response initiative.
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