President Donald Trump spoke with U.S. military personnel on Thanksgiving during a gathering at Mar-a-Lago, using the holiday call to thank service members for their work and to speak about ongoing national security concerns.
During the call, Trump confirmed that one of the two National Guard members wounded in Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., had died from her injuries.
Trump told those listening that 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom had passed away.
Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe were shot in the attack near the D.C. Armory, where they had been stationed.
“She’s just passed away. She’s no longer with us,” Trump said.
“She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her.”
NEW: President Trump announces that National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom has sadly passed away.
Beckstrom was shot by a suspected Afghan national.
“Seconds before I went on right now, I heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia… highly respected, young magnificent person…”… pic.twitter.com/de6dFA9766
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 28, 2025
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
Beckstrom and Wolfe were identified earlier by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national.
Authorities have confirmed the attack is being treated as an act of terrorism.
Beckstrom’s death was announced by Trump shortly before reports from the National Guard and local officials confirmed it.
During the Thanksgiving event, Trump took questions from reporters regarding the background of the suspect and the administration’s response.
Trump repeated his announcement from Wednesday night stating that all Afghans who entered the United States under Joe Biden would need to undergo a new round of security vetting.
He tied the decision to the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and the handling of individuals who entered the country afterward.
.@POTUS: “The suspect is an Afghan national flown here by the previous Administration… We have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country. For the most part, WE DON’T WANT THEM.” pic.twitter.com/UN3x0kY5V0
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 27, 2025
Reporters questioned Trump over the timeline and scope of the re-vetting process.
FAKE NEWS: “Do you blame all Afghans?”@POTUS: “No, but we’ve had a lot of problems with Afghans… There was no checking! They just poured into the plane!”
“But many of them are here legally!”@POTUS: “Yeah, I know the old story, many are wonderful — yeah, I’m sure.” pic.twitter.com/AJmeqekETf
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 28, 2025
Trump pushed back at their questions and said the public needed to understand why the policy change was necessary following the attack.
One reporter asked “Why do you blame the Biden Administration?”
Trump responded: “”Because they let him! Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person? Because they came in on a plane — along with thousands of other people that shouldn’t be here”
FAKE NEWS: “Why do you blame the Biden Administration?”@POTUS: “Because they let him! Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person? Because they came in on a plane — along with thousands of other people that SHOULDN’T BE HERE.”
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/XrSDDjLSLx
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 28, 2025
The Mar-a-Lago event included portions of Trump’s conversations with service members, as well as exchanges with the press.
Footage circulated online throughout the day showing moments from the calls and Trump’s remarks as updates about Beckstrom’s condition became known.
During the same call, Trump addressed unrelated security developments involving Venezuela.
He said the United States would soon expand operations targeting suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers moving shipments across land routes.
“You probably noticed that people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon,” Trump said while speaking virtually with U.S. military service members.
JUST IN – U.S. President Donald Trump on Venezuela: We’ll be starting to stop them on land soon. pic.twitter.com/Wftydkcx76
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 27, 2025
Trump stated that federal agencies had already been working to intercept maritime trafficking and that additional actions would be coordinated to address land-based activity.
Federal officials have not yet released further details on the timeline or scope of the planned actions.
The Thanksgiving call continued as military officials and reporters reviewed the latest information on Wednesday’s attack in Washington, D.C., where Beckstrom and Wolfe were shot.
Federal and local investigators remain active on the case as the National Guard confirmed Beckstrom’s death.
Read the full article here


