Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that 500 additional National Guard troops will be deployed to Washington, D.C., following a direct request from President Donald Trump. The move came just hours after two West Virginia National Guardsmen were shot and critically wounded in what officials describe as a deliberate attack mere steps from the White House.
According to Hegseth, the president demanded an immediate reinforcement of security personnel in the nation’s capital after being briefed on the shooting. Trump’s order reflects a broader effort to restore order and safety in Washington, which has faced escalating violence, rising crime, and mounting national security concerns since he returned to office.
Hegseth made the announcement in a somber statement acknowledging the gravity of the attack. “Myself and my team were notified that two National Guardsmen had been shot in Washington, D.C., critically wounded,” he said. He described the shooting as a “cowardly, dastardly act” that targeted “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 and their capital and their community.”
The Secretary of Defense emphasized that the shooting occurred just steps from the White House grounds—an alarming indication, he said, of the lengths to which violent actors are willing to go. “This happened just steps away from the White House. It will not stand,” Hegseth declared. He confirmed that President Trump instructed him to coordinate with the Secretary of the Army to rapidly deploy an additional 500 National Guardsmen to strengthen security and safeguard federal personnel.
The deployment marks one of the most significant surges of National Guard troops into the nation’s capital in recent history and is part of Trump’s broader strategy to “Make D.C. Safe Again,” a theme he has repeated frequently as he works to reverse what he calls years of mismanagement and neglect under Democratic leadership. Since August, National Guard units have been involved in crime suppression, federal property protection, and various “beautification” initiatives aimed at restoring dignity to the capital.
MS NOW host Nicolle Wallace aired the clip of Hegseth’s announcement during her show and brought in investigative reporter Marc Santia for live analysis. Wallace noted the significance of a sitting Secretary of Defense deploying troops in direct response to an attack on service members, calling it a “major development” in the capital’s security posture.
Santia reported that multiple law enforcement sources believe the shooting was not random. “What we’re hearing from multiple sources right now, Nicolle, is that they believe—multiple sources believe—this was a targeted attack,” he said. The remark suggests investigators are exploring the possibility that the Guardsmen were intentionally selected, raising serious questions about motive, planning, and potential threats to other federal personnel.
The identity of the shooter and any ideological or criminal ties have not yet been released. Federal and local law enforcement agencies continue to investigate, with Homeland Security, the Secret Service, and the FBI reportedly involved in the response.
The attack and the subsequent troop deployment come at a moment when President Trump is demanding a crackdown on violent crime in the District, arguing that public safety has deteriorated to unacceptable levels. Wednesday’s shooting only intensified those concerns and strengthened the administration’s resolve to stabilize the capital.
As the investigation unfolds, two American servicemen remain hospitalized, and the nation waits for answers. Trump’s decision to surge National Guard forces reflects a message his administration has repeated since January: attacks on U.S. service members—especially within sight of the White House—will be met with swift and forceful action.
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