New Yorker journalist Jane Mayer started a row after a post on X in which she claimed the National Guard soldiers who were killed near the White House had “virtually nothing to do but pick up trash.” Her comments came hours after two US National Guard members were shot on Wednesday in Washington, DC. The White House was briefly placed under lockdown following the shooting.Mayer said she lives in DC herself and claimed that the Trump administration’s deployment of Guardsmen there is a “political show.”Mayer acknowledged the incident, but with a sly comment, “This is so tragic, so unnecessary, these poor guardsmen should never have been deployed. 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.” Mayer’s comments drew flak across party lines. Many accusing her of belittling the soldiers killed in the line of duty. Netizens said the guardsmen risked their lives protecting the city and that her post was disrespectful. Social media response:
- The city wasn’t picking up the trash, you’re saying? And obviously you weren’t, because, well, you have important journalism stuff to do. So some soldiers did it instead. Who are dead now.
- Funny how people criticize the National Guard, until they’re the ones being robbed or attacked. That’s when they realize the Guard is there to protect them and keep communities safe from criminals.
- The mere presence of those National Guardsmen helped protect people like you from being raped, robbed, or murdered. They risked their lives for you, you ungrateful hag.
- Jane you disgusting ghoul. These Guardsmen were shot protecting DC from the chaos your side enabled for years, and your first move is to call their sacrifice “unnecessary”
- Two national guardsmen just got shot, and your conclusion is that we don’t have a problem with violent crime?
Rahmanullah Lakanwal identified as suspect
Authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29 year old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021. Police said the shooter was wounded during the incident. Trump issued a statement soon after, calling the attack unacceptable and promising swift action as the investigation continues.
