Trump Invitations Households Of Nationwide Guard Assault Victims To The White House
On Sunday, November 30, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that he had invited the families of the two wounded West Virginia National Guard members — U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe — to the White House.
The two soldiers were shot this past Wednesday by an Afghan national while out on patrol in Washington D.C. Beckstrom tragically succumbed to her wounds on Thursday, while Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition.
“I said, ‘When you’re ready, because that’s a tough thing, come to the White House. We’re going to honor Sarah… And likewise with Andrew, recover or not,’” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
The president went on to state that he has been in contact with Wolfe’s family, adding that he “has a chance to recover” while still stressing that the situation remains critical. Wolfe’s family has requested prayer’s for their son’s recovery.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump has invited the families of National Guardsmen Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe to the White House
“I’ve already suggested it – I said, ‘when you’re ready, come to the White House. We’re gonna honor [them].” ❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/AG0BK6lImi
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 30, 2025
A dignified transfer of Beckstrom’s remains occurred on Thanksgiving day, when the fallen guardsman was honored with a procession of local and federal law enforcement from MedStar Washington Hospital Center to the D.C. medical examiner’s office.
A public memorial attended by family members, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey and several other senior state officials was held the following day at Webster County High School.
Beckstrom, born and raised in the small mountain town of Summersville, West Virginia, was a 2023 honors graduate of the school before she enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard’s 863rd Military Police Company just a month later in June of that year. She enlisted in order to pursue her dream of becoming an FBI agent.
Her father, Gary Beckstrom, shared his heartbreak on Facebook, writing, “My baby girl has passed to glory… This has been a horrible tragedy,” while holding her hand bedside before her passing.
🚨 HEARTBREAKING: National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom’s father Gary responds to her kiIIing
“My baby girl has passed to glory… this has been a horrible tragedy.”
Pray hard for the Beckstrom family on this Thanksgiving night 🙏🏻
I can’t IMAGINE what they’re going through 💔 pic.twitter.com/KkIWi9SBNW
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 28, 2025
The Justice Department is pursuing the death penalty against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the county following the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. According to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, the accused killer worked with several U.S. government entities, including the CIA, while serving with Afghan security forces during the war.
He ultimately entered the country through “Operation Allies Welcome,” a Biden-era program designed to resettle Afghans who aided coalition forces during the conflict.
President Donald Trump has ordered a thorough review of all visas issued as a result of the visa following the attack, citing poor vetting processes for applicants.