Backlash ensued over President Donald Trump’s response to inquiries about his potential attendance at the funeral of a National Guard member killed in action. His diversion from the solemn subject to discuss his electoral accomplishments in the soldier’s home state drew widespread criticism.
In November, during a press conference, Trump was asked if he intended to go to the funeral of U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. The President replied he hadn’t “thought about it yet” but it was “certainly something I could conceive of.” Rather than dwelling on the topic of the deceased soldier, he shifted the conversation towards his electoral victories.
“I love West Virginia,” Trump declared from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. “You know, I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere. These are great people. I love the people of West Virginia. I love the people of our country.”
Trump eventually returned to the subject of the funeral, repeating that he hadn’t given it much thought but conceding it could be something he could do. The comments were made shortly after Trump had announced Beckstrom’s death during his annual Thanksgiving call to U.S. service members.
Specialist Beckstrom, a 20-year-old from Summersville, West Virginia, was killed on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, from injuries sustained in an ambush attack near Farragut Square, Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House. She began her service with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard in June 2023.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was also critically injured in the assault and was battling for his life. Wolfe, who started his service in February 2019, was assigned to the Force Support Squadron, 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. By mid-December, he showed significant improvement and by December 12, he was breathing on his own and able to stand with assistance.
During the Thanksgiving call, Trump characterized Beckstrom as a highly respected and magnificent young woman. White House officials reported that the president had spoken with Beckstrom’s family following her death. His remarks about the possibility of attending the funeral were made during a press briefing at his Palm Beach home on Thanksgiving Day.
The attack was allegedly carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, who had driven from Washington state to D.C. Lakanwal, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2021 following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. On December 2, he pleaded not guilty.
Lakanwal was initially charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. These charges were escalated following Beckstrom’s death. A hearing took place on January 14, but the details have not been made available.
Beckstrom and Wolfe were part of over 2,000 National Guard troops sent to D.C. This was part of the president’s reaction to what he deemed as unchecked crime in the country’s capital. This move has been criticized as excessive and partisan, given Washington’s Democratic political leanings. National Guard troops have since been sent to other cities as well.
Social media erupted with criticism following Trump’s response to the funeral question. Accusations were made that the president was using the moment to talk about himself rather than honoring the fallen soldier. It has been a consistent pattern in Trump’s political career to refer to his electoral triumphs during serious national events.
In response to the incident, the White House issued a statement highlighting that Trump had expressed heartfelt condolences about Beckstrom’s death and underlining his care for the people of West Virginia and those serving the country. The statement also linked the incident to immigration policy discussions of the previous administration.
This incident has reignited national discussions about immigration screening processes, the use of military forces in domestic settings, and the safety of service members carrying out duties on American soil. Both Beckstrom and Wolfe were performing their National Guard duties in what was supposed to be a routine deployment to the nation’s capital when they were attacked.
